President William Ruto has directed all public institutions in Kenya to implement a strict merit-based hiring and promotion process for civil servants, signalling a new strategy to boost government efficiency and weed out underperformers.
Speaking on Friday at the National Productivity and Performance Conference in Nairobi, Ruto instructed independent commissions and public bodies to hire solely on competence, fairness, and transparency.
“It is our expectation that all independent commissions and public service institutions hire on merit, fairness, and transparency so that only the most competent people get the opportunity to serve,” Ruto said.
He directed that promotions must be linked to measurable performance and results, rather than years of service.
“Promotion at work must be based on demonstrated results and never on mere longevity,” Ruto stated, instructing the Public Service Commission (PSC) to implement the changes immediately.
The president also called for national values and principles enshrined in Articles 10 and 232 of Kenya’s constitution to form the foundation of operations in every public office.
In a clear warning to the bureaucracy, Ruto said the era of tolerance for poor performance was over. “We will reward performers and innovators, and we will sanction non-performers without apology,” he declared.
Moving further, he emphasised the need for greater digital transformation across government, saying the state would continue investing in technology and human capital development to improve service delivery.
He urged public servants to embrace continuous upskilling and reskilling, particularly in response to the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence on global workplaces.
The productivity drive should not stop at the national level, Ruto added, calling on devolved county governments, through the Council of Governors, to adopt similar reforms and engage in healthy competition to raise working standards.
The remarks come days after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) announced plans to introduce performance-based pay across the public service.
SRC chairperson Sammy Chepkwony said authorities were examining international models, including Singapore’s approach, where a substantial part of public workers’ compensation is tied directly to performance outcomes.
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