Senate grills PCF over staff diversity and inclusivity gaps
By Cy Muganda, July 26, 2025The Senate has questioned the Policyholders Compensation Fund (PCF) over shortcomings in its staff diversity and inclusivity, urging the institution to do more to ensure fair representation of Kenya’s communities in its workforce.
Appearing before the Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration on Friday, July 25, 2025, PCF Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Sahal defended the fund’s recruitment structure, while acknowledging the need for continued improvement.
“The leadership of the Policyholders Compensation Fund (PCF), led by Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mohamed A. Sahal, appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration on Friday to address concerns over the fund’s adherence to national diversity and inclusivity standards in its staffing,” a statement from Parliament dated July 25, 2025, reads.
PCF staffing concerns
The session, chaired by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Said Chute, focused on how well PCF’s staffing reflects Kenya’s ethnic, gender, age, and ability diversity.
In his submissions, Sahal explained that the fund’s current staff structure, which was approved in 2021 by the State Corporations Advisory Committee and the Board of Trustees, allows for 31 employees, of which only 28 positions have been filled.
Of the 28 employees currently in post, 10 are female (36%) while 18 are male (64%), showing a gender gap that favours male employees.
“On gender representation, the CEO noted that of the 28 employees currently in post, 10 are female (36%) and 18 are male (64%). He further stated that the Fund has employed one person living with a disability,” the statement indicates.
The ethnic composition of PCF staff revealed significant disparities, with Sahal disclosing that the Kikuyu community dominates at 32.14%, followed by the Kisii at 3% while other communities represent less than 2% of the workforce.
“The Kalenjin, Mijikenda, Somali, Meru, and Luo communities each constituted 2% of the workforce, while the Taveta, Kamba, Suba, and Luhya communities each represented 1%,” the statement adds.
In terms of age, 36% of the fund’s staff are youth, while 64% are older employees.
Constitutional compliance
In his defence, Sahal insisted that PCF remains an equal opportunity employer that adheres to constitutional provisions on non-discrimination and inclusivity.
“The Fund does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, or any other characteristic in its recruitment and staffing processes. We remain committed to building a workforce that reflects the face of Kenya,” he told the Committee.
While acknowledging the strides made, the Senate Committee urged the Fund to intensify its efforts to comply fully with constitutional guidelines on diversity, especially regarding the inclusion of marginalised and underrepresented groups.
“The Committee welcomed the progress made but urged PCF to strengthen its efforts toward full compliance with constitutional provisions on inclusivity and equitable representation across all levels of employment,” the statement concluded.