‘Offensive’ Job Application Requirement “State Your Tribe in The Form”

By Elizabeth Benu,

Any form of discrimination in employment is a major scare for many job seekers. A job applicant is willing to eliminate any information that may cause bias from the employer.

In a recent job advert by a large company, the application demanded that candidates fill out their tribe. This has roused disappointment from job seekers who feel that it should not be necessary.

“Nationality is okay with me but tribe…Why?” asks Ongori Munene a job seeker.

Faith Ngure is afraid that her tribe will not get here the job.

“The employer should have classified it as optional. The application form should not oblige me to fill out my tribe if I do not want to. What if my prospective employer hates my tribe? It means I will not get that job. It is unfair for job seekers from dominant tribes,” she adds.

Speaking to Kennedy Munyendo, a Recruitment Officer at Corporate Staffing Services, he clears up the air giving reasons why an employer asks for such details.

“It is legally justified for an employer to ask for these details from a candidate during the application process. Sometimes it may be after the interview or during job application,” he says.

Why would an employer ask a candidate to provide details about their tribe? I ask

“There are three reasons why this can happen. One, an employer wants to fulfill a constitutional requirement. The constitution demands that there is tribal balance in every organisation. An employer may be looking for someone who is not from any of the tribes that are already working for him,” Mr. Munyendo confirms.

“Secondly, it might be used as a tactic to sideline members of a certain community. This is usually personal and it rarely happens since a company has policies guarding against that,” he adds.

He gives the third reason as the nature of the job.

“For example if the job is to be situated in the grassroots of Narok County an employer will obviously be interested in a person who can fluently speak the native language of the residents around that area. A person form the maasai community might be the right candidate for this,” he says.

Is it important or can a candidate fail to fill in that section? I probe further

“Since the employer has his reasons for seeking that information, it is best that an applicant fills it up. You never know the reasons for asking and ignoring it gives the impression that you are not keen,” Mr. Munyendo states.

What should candidates with parents from different tribes indicate? I ask

“In the Kenyan context, families are patriarchal. It is best that a candidate identifies with the father’s tribe,” he advices.

His parting shot:
“Such things should not be linked to discrimination. Most times an employer has their reasons for asking. A candidate should also ensure that their application form is properly filled without any missing gaps,” he concludes.

Contact the writer at elizabeth@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke

Dont Miss any Job Or Article Subscribe to Career Point Kenya by Email FOR FREE CLICK HERE