The government has announced that it will soon release a list of non-performing Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and Principal Secretaries (PSs). This announcement has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power, with many officials scrambling to improve their performance.
The man behind this initiative is none other than the Public Service CS, who took office in 2023. He has been tasked with monitoring service delivery across all government institutions and will be releasing a monthly report to the Cabinet starting this April. In a bold move, he has also proposed making these reports public, thereby holding underperforming officials accountable to the Kenyan people.
CSs will be evaluated based on the commitments made during the government roadshow held earlier this year, where each Ministry outlined its key targets. The government is particularly interested in the progress made in the housing, health, and road sectors.
President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kithure Kindiki at Lake Naivasha resort, Nakuru, on February 21, 2024. PCS
The Public Service CS has reiterated his commitment to the President’s Bottom-Up economic model and has urged his colleagues to deliver on the promises made to Kenyans during the campaigns. He believes that public participation is crucial in improving service delivery and has proposed the creation of a public portal where Kenyans can report non-performing government agencies.
This initiative has received backing from the highest level, with the President himself cautioning his Cabinet against underperformance during a retreat held earlier this year. As the government gears up to name and shame non-performers, it remains to be seen how this will impact service delivery and governance in the country.
CS Kuria also asserted that Kenyans would be key in improving service delivery by exposing government agencies that are not performing through a public portal.
On the other hand, Ruto himself has cautioned his Cabinet against underperformance during the retreat that was held early in the year.
