A senior officer who worked in Kenya’s Parliament has lost his job after the Parliamentary Service Commission found him responsible for alleged sexual harassment of a student intern.
The officer, identified as Reuben Chesire and also referred to in some reports as Mr HSR, held the position of Principal Sergeant-at-Arms in the Senate. The decision followed an incident that took place in 2025 inside his office located in Basement Two of Bunge Towers.
According to available accounts, the matter centred on an interaction between Chesire and the intern that included a hug and the exchange of mobile phone numbers. Chesire reportedly viewed the encounter as a simple social exchange between colleagues. The Commission, however, examined the circumstances and concluded that his conduct amounted to gross misconduct. After a period of suspension and formal disciplinary proceedings, the Parliamentary Service Commission dismissed him from service.
The case has drawn attention because it involves a senior figure in a public institution and a young intern still early in her career path. Interns often enter government offices and parliamentary settings to gain practical experience, and they can find themselves in positions where power differences are clear. In this instance the Commission treated the reported behaviour as a serious breach of expected professional standards.
Sexual harassment remains a concern in many workplaces across Kenya, including public institutions. Laws exist to protect employees and interns from unwanted advances, inappropriate physical contact, or pressure that makes the working environment uncomfortable. When complaints are raised, institutions are expected to investigate thoroughly and take action when the evidence supports a finding of misconduct. The Parliamentary Service Commission followed that process in this matter, leading to the officer’s removal.
The incident itself was limited in description to the hug and the sharing of contact details. No further details of additional behaviour have been widely reported in the available public accounts.
The Commission’s determination that the conduct crossed the line into gross misconduct shows how institutions now view even seemingly minor interactions when they involve a senior officer and a junior intern. What one person may see as friendly can be experienced differently by the other party, especially when there is a clear difference in rank and influence.
This outcome also comes at a time when public service bodies have spoken more openly about the need to protect interns. Earlier statements from related commissions have noted reports of mistreatment, including sexual harassment, directed at young people placed in government offices.
Chesire’s dismissal ends his service in the Senate. The details of any appeal or further legal steps, if they exist, have not been widely reported at this stage. What is clear is that the Parliamentary Service Commission completed its internal process and reached a decision based on the evidence presented to it.
