The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) was among government institutions accused of denying jobs to unemployed Kenyans in the Coastal region.
Kenyans who aired their frustrations to the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities committee on Wednesday argued that they were being denied the jobs since they were not from the region.
According to the locals, this practice has resulted in an increase in unemployment in the region. This situation was exacerbated by more and more Kenyans continued graduating.
"The committee sitting in Nyali NG-CDF offices in Mombasa County was told that cases of joblessness among youths were on the increase due to discrimination," read a statement from Parliament.
This has also led to an increase in crime as the locals look for other means of making a living. The locals asked the committee to intervene to ensure qualified job seekers get a fair opportunity.
Additionally, residents who backed the Cohesion and Integrations Bill asked if the National Cohesion and Integration Commission should be decentralised to ensure that such scenarios don't keep happening.
"We feel unwanted whenever we are denied jobs by KPA and other institutions because we are not born here," one of the residents originally from Western Kenya told the committee.
After the submissions, Adan Haji the committee chairperson and Mandera West MP learned that KPA was most notorious for this behaviour.
Besides non-residents, the Muslim community in the coastal region also complained that they were discriminated against.
The Constitution outlines that no one should be discriminated in any form including based on marital status, colour, age, religion, gender, ethnic or social origin, disability or birth.
Additionally, the Employment Act 2007 also prohibits discrimination and that all employers must create a discrimination-free working environment.
"An employer shall promote equal opportunity in employment and strive to eliminate discrimination in any employment policy or practice," reads part of the Act.
