Human rights groups, led by VOCAL Africa, have filed a petition in the High Court challenging the recent recruitment exercise by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The petition, filed on May 15, alleges that the hiring process failed to adhere to established public service procedures and violated constitutional provisions that guarantee fairness, equity and transparency, citing relevant articles in the Constitution.

The petitioners argue that merit and regional balance were not properly considered in the recruitment, with youth across the country reporting perceived patterns of exclusion.

“We have today filed a petition as VOCAL Africa to challenge the recent recruitment by the KPA. We have argued that the process flouted laid-down procedures,” said VOCAL Africa Chief Executive Officer Hussein Khalid in a statement announcing the petition.

📌 What You Need to Know

The petition, filed in the Constitution and Human Rights Division in Mombasa, names KPA, the Public Service Commission, and the Attorney General as respondents. Co-petitioners include Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) and the She Rises Organization.

The petitioners are asking the court to nullify the recruitment exercise and order a fresh recruitment process that is fully transparent and in line with public service regulations.

“We are asking the court to declare the entire exercise null and void and to order that a fresh recruitment exercise be undertaken,” Khalid said.

KPA initiated the hiring drive for 296 positions in November 2025, drawing half a million applicants nationwide. Vacancies included office and technical roles, such as plumbers, fitters, welders and carpenters, with salaries ranging from Ksh67,000 to Ksh132,000.

Concerns about irregularities in the KPA’s recruitment exercise have been building for months amid rising youth unemployment in the country. Youth groups have been demanding transparency and information about who was employed.

In February, the Lamu Youth Assembly alleged that technical failures during the recruitment process locked out qualified applicants and demanded clarity from KPA and the national government on measures to ensure fairness and equal access.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke