Ezekiel Mutua's powerful message to employers that has impressed Kenyans

Kenya Film and Classification Board Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ezekiel Mutua, has castigated the need to have numerous moral, criminal record and credit status checks for fresh graduates before being given jobs in public and private institutions.

Taking his message to Facebook on Sunday, Dr Mutua questioned the need to have the clearance certificates from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Credit Reference Bureaus (CRB) and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), whose acquisition amounts to Sh 4,750, as a ploy to frustrate the already frustrated jobs seekers.

While he maintained that there is need to crack down on corrupt individuals, especially for top jobs including Chief Executive positions for public sector and permanent secretaries, the CEO argued that fresh graduates should be exempted form such punitive levies.

“It's morally wrong to require of a job seeker to have clearance certificates from HELB, KRA, certificate of good conduct, credit bureau etc. I had to get all these certificates myself when I was applying for PS and CEO posts but I do not approve of them being required of fresh job seekers. They should be limited to senior posts that are governed by the dictates of Chapter Six on leadership and integrity but not of fresh university graduates,” he wrote on his Facebook.

He added: “Certificate of good conduct - Sh 1,050, which is payment for not being a criminal, HELB clearance - Sh 1,000, being payment for not having outstanding arrears, EACC clearance - Sh. 500payment for being not corrupt and credit reference bureau clearance – Sh 2,200, for not having debts or loans with financial institutions. The total comes to Sh 4,750. Can fresh graduates raise this?”

The Chapter Six of the Constitution 2010 requires that people seeking employment in government constitution should seek clearance from all the four institutions, a move that has locked out hundreds of graduates from jobs.

Hundreds of his followers, have praised the new move by the CEO, many calling for a legislation to scrap off such levies, which rob graduates.

“The worst part is looking for all those documents with borrowed money and then you do not get that position, deni lingine maishani lakufuata.I would suggest that one provides them upon passing the interview hence heading to work ndio salary ilipe deni,” Veronica Wachira said.

Another Facebook user, demanded for the digitization of all government records to renovate with the quickly growing demands for such clearances.

“Digitalization of all government data will be easy to link up and generate an e-file on a ' need to' basis. Imagine once all these are required and you are almost certain you aren't gonna be shortlisted. How many times can unemployment, desperate job seeker need to afford them until they secure a Job?” Josephat Kerosi said.

Dr Mutua concludes: “As CEO I will never ask a fresh graduate to produce such when seeking for a job in my organisation.”