Ruto Challenges PSC to Lead Digital Revolution in Public Service
According to the President, embracing technology is no longer optional but essential if the public service is to remain relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of Kenyans.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
President William Ruto has challenged the Public Service Commission (PSC) to accelerate radical reforms in the public sector, saying digital transformation is the key to building a first-world economy.
Speaking on Wednesday at State House, Nairobi, when he hosted PSC Chairperson Francis Meja and his team of commissioners, the President said the era of manual, paper-heavy and bureaucratic public service must come to an end.
He said the PSC must institutionalise digitalisation and shift to data-driven, automated processes that improve efficiency, cut waste and deliver greater value to citizens.
According to the President, embracing technology is no longer optional but essential if the public service is to remain relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of Kenyans.
“The reforms we need in the public service are urgent and necessary. If we do not modernise, we will not be able to meet the expectations of the Kenyan people and support our journey to a first-world economy,” President Ruto told the commissioners.
The Head of State warned that without rapid modernisation, the Commission risks becoming obsolete in a fast-changing world where citizens demand faster, transparent and accountable services.
President Ruto also rooted for the expansion of the Public Service Internship Program (PSIP), which gives college and university graduates practical workplace experience in government.
He said expanding the program will not only address youth unemployment but also build a pipeline of skilled, experienced professionals ready to take up roles in both public and private sectors, thereby strengthening the country’s future workforce.
In addition, the President emphasized the need to overhaul performance contracting in the public service. He said performance contracts must be results-based and capable of genuinely measuring the impact of public servants on the ground.
He noted that accountability, productivity and service delivery must be at the heart of the public service, and that officers must be judged on tangible outcomes for mwananchi, not just processes.
The meeting, also attended by Deputy Head of Public Service Amos Gathecha, PSC Vice Chairperson Mary Kimonye and PSC Secretary and CEO Paul Famba, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a modern, efficient and citizen-centred public service.
President Ruto assured the Commission of full government support to execute its constitutional mandate under Article 233, which includes recruitment, appointment and disciplinary control in the public service.
He said his administration will continue to invest in reforms that promote professionalism, meritocracy and integrity as part of the broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to drive long-term socio-economic transformation for all Kenyans.
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