Nairobi — Public Service Boss Felix Koskei Orders Accountability Sweep to Tackle Impunity in State Agencies

In a high-stakes move to curb systemic underperformance and malpractice, Felix Koskei, Head of the Public Service and Chief of Staff, has issued sweeping directives targeting all senior officials across government ministries and state corporations.

 What Happened

• On Tuesday, 29 July 2025, Koskei announced an urgent virtual meeting for Wednesday, 30 July (7:00–10:00 AM), calling in all Principal Secretaries, CEOs of state agencies, and heads of key functional departments—including HR, audit, procurement, legal, and finance—to deliberate on reforms for improved service delivery. Attendance is mandatory and participants must register via his office portal.

 Driving Forces Behind the Crackdown

Koskei framed the directive as a response to two core failures revealed by monitoring systems:

1. Lax corrective action, leaving systemic glitches unaddressed and delaying public service delivery.

2. No meaningful accountability, with officials—regardless of rank—escaping consequences for infractions, fuelling a culture of public distrust and inefficiency.

“The public is complaining of a non‑responsive Public Service,” Koskei remarked, urging a recalibration of standards across the board.

Key Objectives of the Reforms

• Establish consistent, lawful disciplinary action against errant officers.

• Cultivate a culture of work ethics, integrity, and institutional responsibility.

• Embed performance-oriented targets tied to Zero Fault Audit Status, whistle‑blower protections, and direct reporting channels.

• Reinforce implementation of Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, which formed the Government Efficiency Office to oversee performance reforms.

 Strategic Implications

 Broader Impact & Challenges

• Institutional authority checked: This marks a strengthening of Koskei’s role in public service governance following his past actions, including restructuring of state agencies and personnel suspensions.

• Sustainability concerns: Long-term success hinges on enforcement consistency; isolated interventions risk relapse to complacency.

• Potential friction: Agencies resistant to oversight may push back, creating implementation hurdles or slowed buy-in.

📝 Final Word

Felix Koskei’s campaign signals a turning point in Kenya’s public sector reform—one aimed squarely at dismantling a legacy of inertia and impunity. By convening top leadership at scale and demanding clear standards of performance and accountability, the Head of Public Service is betting that institutional discipline can be revived through decisive action and leadership commitment.

Want to explore how these measures might reshape specific agencies or counties? Or need an analysis of past enforcement outcomes under Koskei’s reforms? Just say the word.