Absa Kenya and Safaricom are among 14 companies in Kenya that have been ranked as top employers of choice in Africa for 2024 in a report released by The Top Employers Institute programme.
The TEI programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers 20 topics in six HR domains: People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity & Inclusion and Employee Wellbeing.
Top Employers Institute CEO David Plink says: “Exceptional times bring out the best in people and organisations. These employers have always shown that they care for the development and well-being of their people. By doing so, they collectively enrich the world of work. We are proud to announce and celebrate this year’s group of leading people-oriented employers: the Top Employers 2024.”
The programme has certified and recognised over 2,300 Top Employers in 122 countries across five continents.
Absa Bank Kenya was at the top of the list, retaining its title as the Top Employer of Choice in Kenya and Africa for the third time in a row.
In a statement, Absa welcomed the recognition, noting that it was a result of a commitment to delivering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environment, along with people-centric practices.
Absa Bank Kenya Plc Managing Director, Abdi Mohamed, stated that the recognition was a testament to the bank’s recognition that its employees are its best asset. Besides Absa Kenya’s recognition, several other African Absa subsidiaries were recognized in the report, including Absa Ghana and Absa Botswana.
“This recognition three years in a row further underscores our unwavering commitment to our human capital as we continue to establish Absa as a home of talent in line with our strategic priorities,” Abdi Mohamed stated.
Safaricom first received the Top Employer certification in 2022
Telecommunications giant Safaricom PLC also made it to the list of Africa’s top employers. The recognition by the Top Employers Institute came three months after Forbes ranked it as the third-best employer in Africa.
In a statement, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa expressed his pleasure with the recognition. According to him, the recognition is a validation of the strong employer brand it has become over the years.
“This award is a validation of the strong employer brand that Safaricom has created over the years by providing an agile working environment and numerous opportunities for employees to grow in their chosen crafts,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom PLC.
Safaricom first received the Top Employer certification in 2022 and has retained it for three years running. In November 2023, it was also ranked the 3rd best employer in Africa by Forbes, validating its focus on putting its people first.
In addition, the report also recognized AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in Kenya and Bayer East Africa, both in the pharmaceuticals sector.
Other companies named by the institute include beverage giants Coca-Cola Africa, British American Tobacco, DHL Express Kenya, Unilever Kenya, and Huawei Technologies Kenya.