Kenya’s National Land Commission (NLC) is facing one of its most serious internal crises in recent years after employees accused senior management of implementing discriminatory pay cuts, presiding over irregular recruitment practices and fostering what they describe as a toxic workplace culture.
Internal documents reviewed by this publication, together with accounts from staff members, paint a picture of an institution grappling with declining morale, growing mistrust and increasing calls for investigations by Parliament and anti-corruption agencies.
The allegations come at a sensitive time for the constitutional commission, which is mandated to manage public land on behalf of the national and county governments.
Staff members argue that decisions made by senior management have not only affected employees’ livelihoods but also undermined the institution’s effectiveness, raising broader concerns about governance, accountability and public confidence in one of Kenya’s most important land agencies.
Lower-paid workers allege disproportionate pay cuts
At the centre of the dispute are claims that lower-cadre employees have suffered substantial reductions in their house allowances while senior officials allegedly benefited from significant increases. Payslips reviewed by this publication indicate that some junior employees experienced house allowance reductions of up to 44%.
At the same time, senior officers allegedly received increases of as much as 70%, creating what employees describe as a widening compensation gap within the commission. Staff members say the adjustments were implemented without consultation or prior notice, leaving affected workers struggling to meet rising living costs.
Several employees described the changes as both financially damaging and psychologically demoralising, arguing that the burden of cost-cutting measures appeared to fall disproportionately on lower-paid staff.
According to employees familiar with the matter, management justified the changes as part of efforts to contain the commission’s growing wage bill.
However, staff allege that the process bypassed both employee consultation and oversight by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), allegations that have not been independently verified.
Questions over legality
The alleged pay restructuring has prompted legal concerns among employees, who argue that treating workers differently based on job categories may conflict with Kenya’s labour laws.
The source document cites recent Employment and Labour Relations Court jurisprudence that declared discriminatory pay structures unlawful, with employees arguing that the commission’s actions could face similar legal scrutiny if challenged. While no court has ruled on the commission’s current pay structure, staff believe the precedent raises important questions about compliance with fair labour practices.
Recruitment practices under scrutiny
The pay dispute is only one aspect of a broader governance crisis described by employees.
Several staff members allege that recruitment within the commission has increasingly departed from the competitive procedures required under Kenya’s Employment Act.
According to the allegations, some permanent and pensionable positions were allegedly filled without public advertisements, transparent shortlisting or formal interviews.
Employees further allege that certain appointments involved individuals whose qualifications fell below the standards ordinarily expected for the positions they occupied. These allegations have not been independently verified, and no documentary evidence beyond the source material was provided.
Workers argue that these alleged recruitment practices have fuelled perceptions of favouritism and nepotism while weakening confidence in the commission’s internal governance.
Parliamentary oversight intensifies
The allegations emerge as Parliament continues to scrutinise the commission’s operations.
According to the source document, National Land Commission Chief Executive Officer Kabale Tache was directed by the National Assembly Lands Committee to submit audited employee recruitment records covering the period between 2023 and 2026. The document states that the information had not been submitted at the time it was prepared.
Employees believe the parliamentary review could provide greater transparency regarding recruitment decisions and staffing trends during the period under examination.
The document also contains allegations that the chief executive presented inaccurate workforce ethnic composition figures before the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Cohesion. Those claims have not been independently verified, and no response from the commission was included in the source material.
Leadership under pressure
Employees interviewed for the source document directed much of their criticism towards Chief Executive Officer Kabale Tache and Human Resources Director Ben Bett.
Staff members accuse the two senior officials of failing to address deteriorating working conditions while remaining unresponsive to employee concerns. One employee, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals, claimed morale had reached its lowest level in years while senior management maintained a visible public profile through community events and official engagements.
The document does not include responses from either official to the allegations.
Echoes of earlier criticism
The latest complaints come against the backdrop of previous criticism directed at the National Land Commission by President William Ruto, who publicly referred to the institution as a “kiosk” associated with questionable dealings.
Calls for independent investigations
Without union representation, commission employees say they have limited mechanisms through which to challenge management decisions.
They are now calling on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Ministry of Labour and relevant parliamentary committees to investigate the commission’s management practices, financial decisions, recruitment procedures and workplace culture.
Employees argue that only an independent inquiry can establish whether public service regulations and employment laws were followed. Whether those appeals result in formal investigations remains to be seen.
However, the allegations outlined by employees raise broader questions about governance, transparency and accountability within one of Kenya’s most strategically important constitutional commissions.
The National Land Commission’s response to the allegations was not included in the source document reviewed for this article. The claims made by employees remain allegations and have not been independently verified.
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