The Public Service Commission (PSC) Vice-Chairperson Mary Wanjira Kimonye has advised the Human Resource (HR) professionals through Institute of Human Resources Management (IHRM) to come up with strategies that can accommodate the upcoming generation of young people at workplace
Mrs. Kimonye said the workforce in Kenya and the world today is getting younger and younger, and ways must be found to accommodate this generation.
She was speaking in Naivasha during the 6th Women in HR Convention, whose theme is “Accelerate Action,” redefining leadership she urged women to take up more management roles.
Kimonye observed that we need to ensure at any one time that the Government and the public service is manned by people with the right skills, the right attitude, and also the right competencies and the PSC has embraced an affirmative action initiative in order to ensure that we are increasing the number of women and youths in the public service.
Mrs. Kimonye also voiced concern about increasing cases of mental health at workplace specifically in the public service, especially post-COVID.
“There’s a time we had even very many suicides, and especially with the police force. But the Government has put in place a mechanism to deal with mental health. We have mental health champions in the ministries and the state departments,” she revealed.
Data from the State Department of Public Service shows the country lost Sh62.2 billion due to mental health conditions, which is equivalent to 0.6 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 after the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.
Thus, Kimonye is advocating for early detection of these cases in order to nip the problem in the bud, and also having mentorship for the young people who are entering the public service since the public service job is a demanding job.
She also revealed that other challenges at workplace include; economic and social pressures, Gender- Based Violence and family conflicts. Subsequently, the Government has prioritized mental health through strengthening legal and policy frameworks touching on mental health.
To this end, the Ministry of Public Service through the Directorate of Counselling and Wellness Services, has developed the Public Service Counseling and Wellness Policy 2024 which seeks to improve public servants’ mental health and well-being by ensuring that workplaces are safe and conducive for optimal productivity.
On the ongoing issue of demand for salary increment among several cadres in the public service, Kimonye noted salaries are subject to the revenue that we collect as a country and the financial challenge is global.
“So long as the economy is not growing at the rate that we want it to grow, even the agitation for higher salaries just becomes an agitation. My encouragement to the entire nation is that we think more about making the cake bigger and to generate revenue for our country and then the issue of adding salaries for everybody will not be an issue. But for now, we need to tighten our belts a bit,” she admonished.
Several sections of the public service such as doctor and clinical officers have in the recent past gone on strike demanding among other things, better pay.
IHRM Executive Director Quresha Abddullahi on her part said women are about 60 per cent within the HR profession, but when you look at the leadership position, they hold lower positions and the IHRM is trying to address what he termed as self-sabotage.
“We must look at strategies to keep the HR function strategic, and also to give skills to our women who are managing human resources within the private and public sectors,” he said.
Abdullahi advised women to take advantage of the policies that are there and the legal instruments to bring more women into the leadership roles.
She stated that HR professionals are the architects of the workplaces and need to make the workplaces conducive for HR policies to blossom.
Abdullahi noted that the council he leads at IHRM is firmly committed to promoting diversity and women’s leadership within the HR profession and recognize that true progress comes when we harness the full potential of all our members.
“We are intentional about creating opportunities for women to lead and excel. Currently, I am proud to say that our Council composition reflects this commitment, with women holding key leadership positions and driving important initiatives,” she stated.
Ms. Abddullahi expressed his commitment to supporting women to be the best versions of themselves by listening, advocating, mentoring, and challenging obstacles that hinder their progress.
“Men, too, must be allies in the journey toward gender equality, actively supporting women’s advancement and creating spaces where women can thrive professionally. This is not just the right thing to do; it is essential for the growth and sustainability of our profession and organizations,” she added.
Abdullahi observed that the HR profession in Kenya continues to grow, with IHRM membership now exceeding 19,000 professionals and women form the backbone of this membership, bringing unique perspectives in the profession, emotional intelligence, and collaborative leadership styles that enrich the profession immensely.
“We must acknowledge and celebrate this contribution while working to remove any remaining barriers to women’s advancement,” she said.
The IHRM Executive Director announced that as part of our commitment to supporting all members’ professional growth, the council announced a 50 percent waiver on membership subscription fees and this will expire in May 2025.
Abdullahi encouraged those who have not yet taken advantage of this opportunity to do so and register and added that this initiative reflects our dedication to making professional development accessible to all members, particularly during these economically challenging times.
She also revealed that advocacy efforts to raise the profile of the HR profession in Kenya are bearing fruit, noting that IHRM is now represented in numerous institutions, including independent commissions and selection panels, where they promote best HR practices.
She further said they were currently working on aligning the HRMP Act amendment bill to convert it into a government bill to be tabled in parliament through our Ministry and have received technical support from the Ministry, and we remain hopeful for continued support in this important endeavor.
IHRM is a Statutory Professional Body established under the Human Resource Management Professionals (HRMP) Act, No. 52 of 2012, assented to by the late President Mwai Kibaki. The Body is domiciled and operates within the Republic of Kenya. The Council governs the Body while the Executive Director heads it and is the Council Secretary.
According to the Human Resource Management Professionals (HRMP) Act, the core objective of the body is to regulate the HR profession in Kenya, enhance competencies and capabilities while supporting innovative and capabilities while supporting innovative and transformative HR practices and standards. IHRM is a State Corporation under the Ministry of Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management.
By Mabel Keya Shikuku and Immaculate Kariuki
