Head of Public Service Orders Accountability Shake-Up to Tackle Impunity in Civil Service

Nairobi, Kenya – August 1, 2025

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has launched a sweeping accountability drive across government ministries and departments, citing rising concerns over lax discipline, service delivery failures, and entrenched impunity within the civil service.

Koskei convened a high-level meeting this week with principal secretaries, departmental heads, and parastatal executives at Harambee House, where he delivered a stern warning: discipline and performance must be restored at all levels of public administration.

“We can no longer tolerate negligence, indiscipline, or a lack of urgency in serving the public. It is unacceptable that taxpayers fund institutions that do not deliver,” Koskei said, according to sources present at the closed-door session.

Performance Review and Compliance Crackdown

The meeting resulted in a directive to all accounting officers and heads of public institutions to submit updated performance reports, audit compliance statuses, and disciplinary case summaries within two weeks. Koskei also hinted at executive-level reshuffles if benchmarks on efficiency and financial accountability are not met.

Insiders say the move comes after an internal audit flagged rampant absenteeism, poor enforcement of performance contracts, delayed service delivery, and the misuse of public funds across several departments. These findings reportedly contributed to the President’s dissatisfaction with the pace of public service reforms.

The accountability campaign is being coordinated in partnership with the Public Service Commission, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the National Treasury. The goal is to develop a cross-agency dashboard for tracking institutional performance, absenteeism, disciplinary action, and complaint resolution.

New Standards and a Culture Reset

Koskei emphasized that the reforms are not just administrative but cultural. He cited the need to restore public confidence in government institutions, noting that waste, delays, and mismanagement were eroding trust in the state.

“This is about culture change — we need civil servants who are responsive, ethical, and accountable to the people they serve,” he said.

As part of the shake-up, ministries have been instructed to enforce strict attendance registers, zero tolerance for corruption, and regular internal audits. New KPIs are also expected to be introduced for departmental heads, with real-time dashboards to monitor progress.

The directive aligns with President William Ruto’s broader pledge to professionalize public service and cut systemic inefficiencies as part of his bottom-up economic transformation agenda.

Public Reaction and Political Signals

While the directive has been welcomed by governance watchdogs and civil society groups, critics warn that past reform pledges have stalled due to political interference, weak enforcement, and lack of follow-through.

Nonetheless, Koskei’s move is being interpreted by observers as a signal that the executive is preparing to take a firmer hand on state performance — especially as the government comes under pressure to justify public spending amid rising economic strain.