ABSTRACT:- Kenya faces challenges of negative ethnicity which is persistently discussed in different forums in the country. The effects of this cut across various sectors of the economy including the education sector. Public Universities in Kenya are guided by government legislations and policies and they should embrace ethnic diversity in their structures, recruitments and appointments of its human resources. However, according to the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission, majority of the public universities in Kenya contravene the laws of Kenya and the new Constitution in relation to the basic tenets of ethnic diversity. This article explores ethnic diversity in public universities in Kenya tracing its origin and development in these establishments. Using desk-top and content analysis research approach, empirical and theoretical studies were analyzed and research findings and conclusions obtained. Drawing from the social categorization, the similarity- attraction and the information-decision-making theories the study theoretically advances an argument that ethnic diversity is not embraced in public universities in Kenya and further supports full adherence and implementation of the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission recommendations in order to curb negative ethnicity and improve inclusivity of the marginalized communities in these institutions.

Keywords:- Workforce Diversity, Ethnic Diversity, Public Universities, Human Resource Management