PSC seeks to replace over 10,000 employees

The government says it will replace over 10, 358 employees exiting the civil service in the next five years.

In the 2018-19 financial year, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is likely to employ an estimated 2, 000 staff, way below the official requirement because of inadequate financial resources to fill required positions.

Speaking at a Nairobi Hotel during a session with media editors after unveiling a programme for the upcoming 2nd National Dialogue Conference on values and principles in the public service to be held on August 7, PSC deputy commission secretary in charge of technical services Jane Chege said the government will recruit new staff for ministries and other state departments on need basis.

“Once allocated funds, government agencies should approach us to help them fill specific positions after advertisement,” said Chege, adding, however, that there was no clear succession plan in the civil service.

Chege noted that most of the civil servants moved to serve in the counties leaving the national government with a handful staff to grapple with implementing a number of state programmes especially the Big 4 Agenda.

“Government policy on employment emphasizes on the need to restrict staff employment from Group J who are university graduates and above,” said Chege.

The conference theme, according to Acting PSC Chairman Peter Ole Nkuraiya will centre on the promotion of ethical values and principles in the public and private sectors.

“We are also keen on promoting integrity, efficiency and productivity of the Public Service in the attainment of National Development Goals,” he added.

Nkuraiya said the public service was facing succession management challenges as most of its senior employees were about to retire.

The Vision 2030 is also another development programme with national importance which the PSC says would suffer public service staff deficit.

Out of the estimated 200,000 civil servants in both national and county governments, 26,743 have primary school education and below, where majority are in security, social, rehabilitative and office services.

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In April this year, the PSC warned of a staffing crisis, noting that at least 50 per cent of public servants are almost 50 years old and will be leaving government offices in the next 10 years.