![Public Service Commission (PSC) Vice-Chairperson Mary Wanjira Kimonye (right) receives a trophy gift from the Institute of Human Resources Management [IHRM] during the 6th Women in HR Convention which is in Naivasha. Photo by Shikuku/ Immaculate Kariuki](https://coatmediaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DSC_3896-scaled.jpg)
Naivasha, Kenya—At the 6th Women in HR Convention in Naivasha, Public Service Commission Vice-Chair Mary Wanjira Kimonye called on Kenyan women to move beyond support roles and step fully into management and leadership. With the country’s workforce getting younger, she challenged institutions to adapt by ensuring youth and women are placed at the decision-making table—not just symbolically, but substantively.
Kimonye stressed that Kenya’s public service must prioritize competence and attitude over patronage and outdated hierarchies. While affirmative action is in place, she acknowledged more is needed to overcome entrenched barriers. Her message was clear: women must claim space, and institutions must evolve to reflect their lived realities.
She also raised alarm over the mental health crisis among civil servants, especially in the wake of COVID-19. With losses amounting to KSh62.2 billion in 2020 alone, she warned that the toll on productivity and national wellbeing is unsustainable. A new Public Service Counseling and Wellness Policy aims to address this, but its success will depend on implementation—not just policy drafting.
On the issue of public servant pay, Kimonye took a cautious stance. Amid rising unrest among health workers and other professionals, she insisted wage increases must align with economic growth. Her message to Kenyans: tighten your belts for now. But this raises critical questions about economic priorities and whether sacrifices are being fairly distributed.
Institute of Human Resource Management Executive Director Quresha Abdullahi added that although women form the majority in HR, they remain underrepresented in senior roles. She called it “self-sabotage” and urged women to strategically position themselves. Abdullahi emphasized that the IHRM Council is now led by women and committed to equity, mentorship, and institutional reform. The HRMP Act is currently being revised to better reflect Kenya’s evolving labor landscape.
With over 19,000 members, HR professionals are increasingly shaping national workforce policies. For Abdullahi, empowering women in HR isn’t just about representation—it’s about reengineering the DNA of leadership itself.
As Kenya grapples with economic strain and institutional transformation, the women of HR may be leading more than an internal shift—they could be laying the groundwork for a broader leadership revolution.
