An audit by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) shows that representation on the boards of Kenya's state corporations remains concentrated among a few ethnic communities.
As of March 2025, the Kikuyu community had the highest representation, with 422 board members, accounting for 22.84 per cent of appointments.
The Kalenjin followed with 284 members (15.37 per cent), while the Luhya had 202 (10.93 per cent) and the Luo 185 (10.01 per cent).
Other communities among the top eight were the Kisii with 146 members (7.9 per cent), Kamba with 123 (6.66 per cent), Meru with 99 (5.36 per cent) and Kenyan Somali with 87 (4.69 per cent).
According to the NGEC audit, nearly 79 per cent of all board positions are occupied by members drawn from these eight communities.
The findings have renewed debate over equitable representation and compliance with constitutional principles of diversity and inclusivity in public appointments.
