Government Launches New Instrument to Improve Discipline and Accountability
Koskei stated that the action is part of ongoing reforms aimed at improved service delivery and the rebuilding of public trust in state institutions.
Government Launches New Instrument to Improve Discipline and Accountability in Public Service.Photo/Courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
Public Service and State House Chief of Staff Felix Koskei has launched a new instrument of government termed the “Matrix of Lawful Consequences” aimed at improving discipline, enhancing accountability, and delivering improved performance in the public service.
Unveiled in a top-level video meeting with state and institutional leaders, the framework is a formal and legally compliant plan for addressing chronic misconduct, including absenteeism, negligence, and persistent underperformance.
Koskei stated that the action is part of ongoing reforms aimed at improved service delivery and the rebuilding of public trust in state institutions.
This is not a matter of unnecessarily punishing citizens,” Koskei said. “It is about ensuring that improper conduct and poor performance are addressed promptly and fairly. We want a public service in which everybody knows what the rules are and what happens if you break them.”.
The Head of Public Service explained that the Matrix draws upon existing legislation, government policy, and constitutional principles of equity and due process. The Matrix itself deals with long-standing governance weaknesses such as prolonged audit queries, failure to follow directives, and entrenched bureaucratic delays that have undermined reform for decades.
“Kenyans are tired of promises that amount to nothing,” Koskei stated. “They want a public service that delivers with integrity and provides them with meaningful value for their money. This is the moment to shift from policy on paper to action on the ground.”
Throughout the duration of the three-hour meeting, Koskei declared that the new structure would be applied consistently at every level of government, including the Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and other high-ranking government officials. This, he clarified, is in keeping with the government’s resolve towards structural change and not discretionary application.
He also assured that the ground for the roll-out of the Matrix is prepared, with policy changes, training sessions, and running guidelines all ready. “What is required now is uniform and equitable enforcement,” Koskei said, stating that roll-out would first start with departmental examination and harmonization of the law across institutions.
“Citizens may not know all the details of this system,” he said, “but they will see its success when public services are efficient, ethical, and results-oriented. This is the time for public service to perform.”.
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