The National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities has warned of possible sanctions against the Tanathi Water Works Development Agency following revelations that the corporation currently has no employee living with a disability.
It also emerged that about 67 per cent of the corporation’s staff come from one community.
The committee, chaired by Adan Yussuf Haji (Mandera West), said the agency appeared not to have met constitutional expectations on diversity, inclusion, and fair representation in public employment.
A report by the Auditor-General indicated that Tanathi Water Works had not attained the legal thresholds on ethnic balance, gender parity, and inclusion of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs).
“The Agency has not fully complied with the requirements of the law on ethnic balance, youth absorption, gender parity, and the allocation of tenders to special interest groups,” said Haji.
“This is one of the most serious cases of non-compliance we have come across,” he added.
During a committee session, MPs questioned the explanations offered by the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Francis Siva, terming them unsatisfactory.
Luanda MP Dick Maungu said the CEO’s report fell short of the required standards, adding: “Your report does not demonstrate compliance. This is an inadequate submission.”
In his response, Siva said the agency previously had one staff member living with a disability who has since passed away, and that there have been no new recruitments to fill the position.
He further explained that the gender imbalance within the agency could be attributed to the technical nature of most advertised roles, which tend to attract more male applicants.
“The jobs we advertise are technical, and they usually attract more men than women,” he said.
However, his remarks drew sharp reactions from the lawmakers.
National Assembly Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunities, Adan Yussuf Haji (Mandera West), during a meeting with Tanathi Water Works Development Agency management /HANDOUTNyeri County MP Rahab Mukami Wachira questioned Siva’s assertion, saying: “You’re giving the impression that women are not interested in technical jobs. I have a daughter who is an engineer and remains jobless — yet you say there are no female applicants.”
Haji added that the Committee had access to data showing availability of qualified female engineers, stating: “If you need 30 today, we can provide them. Kindly avoid misleading this Committee.”
The legislators also expressed concern over what they viewed as insufficient inclusion of PLWDs and urged the agency to take corrective measures in line with legal requirements.
Vice Chairperson Duncan Mathenge (Nyeri Town MP) said the Committee would consider appropriate actions against the agency’s leadership.
"With the information presented, we are considering recommending sanctions on the accounting officer,” he said.
The Committee has directed CEO Siva to submit a comprehensive compliance report within two weeks for review by the National Assembly team.
