President William Ruto has directed all public institutions to embrace merit-based hiring and promotions, saying the public service must be driven by competence, accountability and results.
Speaking during the National Productivity and Performance Conference in Nairobi on Friday, the President said government jobs should go to the most qualified candidates and not be influenced by other considerations.
“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.
The President also announced a shift in how promotions are handled in the public service, insisting that career progression should be based on performance rather than the number of years an employee has spent in office.
“Promotion at work must be based on demonstrated results and never on mere longevity,” he said.
Ruto directed the Public Service Commission and other public institutions to immediately align their systems with the new approach, saying public servants must be held to higher standards as the government seeks to improve service delivery.
The Head of State further called on public institutions to uphold the national values and principles set out in the Constitution, noting that professionalism and integrity should remain at the centre of public service.
At the same time, he sent a warning to civil servants who fail to meet expectations, saying the government would no longer tolerate poor performance.
“We shall reward performers and innovators and penalize non-performers with no apologies,” he noted.
President Ruto’s sentiments are expected to ignite new debates in the civil service, which has in the past been characterized by promotions based on longevity in service.
The President also encouraged public servants to embrace continuous learning because the pace of technological evolution, including artificial intelligence, has changed workplaces globally.
According to him, the government would continue to invest in digitization and capacity building in order to increase efficiency and enhance access to public services in Kenya.
President Ruto called on county governments to adopt a performance culture, urging the governors to benchmark each other and learn from one another in order to improve service delivery.
President Ruto made his sentiments in the midst of efforts by the government to carry out reforms in order to ensure efficiency and accountability of public institutions.
The president’s statement comes on the heels of recommendations by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on performance-based pay. SRC Chairperson Sammy Chepkwony recently said the commission is studying models used in countries such as Singapore, where part of an employee’s earnings is tied to their performance.
If implemented, the reforms could significantly change how civil servants are hired, promoted and rewarded, with greater emphasis placed on results and productivity rather than years spent in office.
