Challenges of Implementing Workforce Diversity Policies in Kenyan Public Universities

Abstract

Diversity management in multicultural workforce environment is increasingly becoming an important issue for most organizations in the era of globalization and increasing complexity of jobs arising from technology advancement. In other cases, ensuring workforce diversity has come about as government legislation in order to ensure equal employment opportunity for all diverse groups and more so in view of high unemployment levels. The study sought to establish the challenges of implementing workforce diversity policies in public universities in Kenya. Descriptive research design was used with the study population comprising all public universities in Kenya with heads of human resource departments as the respondents. Data analysis was by descriptive statistics through the use of the mean scores, standard deviation, frequency, percentages and content analysis. The study found out that public universities in Kenya have in place workforce diversity policies with laid down strategies for effective implementation. Despite this and in the course of policies implementation, challenges are emanating from both external forces outside the public universities and from within individual universities and more so with the need to comply with the NCI Act, (2008). However, most public universities in Kenya have laid down strategies in countering the challenges. The study recommended that empowering minority groups through affirmative action is imperative while consolidating all public universities under one administrative body to facilitate staff reorganization would offer a lasting solution to the challenges.