Government Plans Major Shake-Up in Public Sector Jobs to Promote Merit-Based Hiring
The government is taking steps to ensure that hiring in the public sector is strictly based on merit, according to Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku.
Speaking during a panel discussion on TV 47 on Friday, CS Ruku emphasized that the government is committed to ending favoritism and ensuring that all public jobs are awarded fairly to the most qualified individuals.
“We want to make sure that meritocracy becomes the standard in all public sector employment,” Ruku said.
He added that the current system has been compromised, with many individuals getting government jobs not because of their skills or experience, but due to their personal connections.
However, he assured Kenyans that this situation is about to change.
“The President has given clear instructions that going forward, public sector hiring and promotions must be based on merit.
That means employment will depend on your qualifications, your experience, and your ability to perform in the role—not on who you know,” he explained.
Ruku added that his ministry has already begun putting systems in place to ensure that merit-based recruitment is strictly followed in all areas of public service.
Even though the Public Service Commission (PSC) operates as an independent body, political influence and nepotism have long played a part in its recruitment processes.
It has been reported that public sector jobs often go to individuals based on ethnic background or political allegiance, rather than professional qualifications.
Ruku reassured the public that the PSC will continue operating independently and will now work more strictly to ensure job recruitment and promotions in the public sector are based on merit.
“It’s important to note that the PSC is an independent commission, and we do not interfere with its work.
The commission has done well so far, but there’s still a need for improvement in promoting meritocracy,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary stated that reforms will begin within the PSC and will extend to other commissions and public institutions. The goal is to enforce a culture of meritocracy across the entire public service sector.
Ruku was responding to growing concerns about recent hiring at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), where most of the new jobs reportedly went to members of only two ethnic communities.
This controversy has reignited the public outcry over tribalism and favoritism in government employment.
The new CS, who replaced former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi after his recent dismissal, said the public should expect significant reforms in the coming months. He promised to bring more discipline and fairness to the public service sector.
Additionally, Ruku revealed that his ministry is working on plans to commercialize the services offered by the National Youth Service (NYS).
He explained that the move is aimed at empowering the NYS and creating job opportunities for young people.
According to him, NYS personnel have valuable skills and can provide a wide range of professional services in fields such as engineering, security, manufacturing, agriculture, and hospitality.
By turning these services into income-generating ventures, the government hopes to make NYS more sustainable and productive.
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