Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called for an end to the use of Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) records as a requirement for employment, saying the practice unfairly denies qualified job seekers access to employment.
While addressing the Senate on Wednesday, July 15, Sifuna sought a statement from the Standing Committee on Labor and Social Welfare on the growing use of CRB information by employers during recruitment.
Sifuna Wants Recruitment Practice Reviewed
The senator argued that CRBs were established to help financial institutions assess the creditworthiness of borrowers, not to determine whether an individual qualifies for employment.
Sifuna expressed concern that an increasing number of employers are using CRB records as a pre-condition for recruitment, locking qualified job seekers out of employment opportunities because of their credit history.
Sifuna asked the committee to explain why employers continue to rely on CRB records during recruitment and what steps are being taken to stop the practice.
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He also wants the committee to outline measures to protect job seekers’ personal data from misuse and ensure recruitment processes comply with the constitutional rights to fair labor practices and equal economic opportunity.
In a separate request to the same committee, Sifuna sought answers on salary disparities between Kenyan and foreign employees working for international organizations, particularly international media houses operating in the country.
The Senator directed the committee to explain the measures taken to ensure equal pay for equal work, review salaries and benefits offered by international organizations, and recommend steps to address any disparities while ensuring compliance with Kenyan labor laws.
Sifuna Seeks Answers on Muhoroni Sugar Workers’ Dues
The Nairobi senator also sought a statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries over delays in paying terminal benefits and salary arrears owed to former employees and retirees of Muhoroni Sugar Company.
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He noted that despite budgetary allocations, many former workers continue to experience financial hardship as they wait for their payments.
Sifuna wanted the committee to disclose the amount of money allocated to settle the arrears, provide timelines for payment, explain measures to protect affected workers from eviction while awaiting their dues, and give an update on outstanding obligations affecting former employees of Chemelil, Nzoia, Miwani, Mumias and Sony Sugar companies.
Graduate Engineers Registration Delays
The senator further sought a statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing over delays by the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK) in processing applications for the registration of graduate engineers.
He observed that although the board’s service charter provides for registration within four months, many applicants have reportedly waited for more than 10 months despite meeting all the requirements.
Senator Edwin Sifuna asked for details on the board’s composition and funding, the number of pending registration applications, the reasons for the delays, the timeline for clearing the backlog, and the reforms being implemented to prevent similar delays in the future.
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