NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 22 — The National Chairman of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM), Dalmas Odero, has been re-elected to serve a second three-year term, extending his leadership at the statutory body that regulates HR practice in Kenya.
Odero first assumed office in July 2022, succeeding Joseph Vincent Onyango.
“This is not my victory alone; it is a victory for every HR professional who believes in a stronger, more respected, and future-ready profession,” he said following his re-election.
The chairman outlined a reform agenda anchored on four pillars: professionalism, membership welfare, advocacy, and execution.
His priorities include strengthening ethics, certification, and capacity to address emerging workplace challenges such as artificial intelligence, hybrid work, and diversity and inclusion.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to lobby for amendments to the HRMP Act, saying the changes would enhance accountability and broaden the institute’s mandate.
Currently, IHRM has over 20,000 registered members, but only about 7,000 actively participate in its activities. Odero emphasized that bridging this gap would be a key focus of his second term.
He urged HR practitioners across the country to become fully compliant, licensed members of the institute, warning that non-compliance undermines professional credibility.
On the long-standing dispute over the fate of the College of Human Resource Management (CHRM), Odero confirmed that the institute would continue consultations with stakeholders to reach a resolution.
IHRM’s Executive Director, Kuresha Abdullahi, reiterated that HR practice in Kenya is regulated by law and cautioned employers against engaging unlicensed practitioners.
“HR is now a strategic role; it is no longer where it was. You must get the best, and we have them within our database,” she said.
Odero’s second term begins as the institute navigates critical reforms that could redefine HR practice across Kenya’s public and private sectors.
