Kenya begins potentially painful civil service shake-up

From left seated: SRC Chairperson Sarah Serem, Kisii Governor James Ongwae, Devolution CS Anne Waiguru and Public Service Commission Chairperson Margaret Kobia address the Press at Harambee House, Monday. [PHOTO: GOVEDI ASUTSA/STANDARD]

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration has signalled a shake-up of the civil service cutting across the national and county governments with possible job cuts once completed by November.

After assuming office last year, the President unveiled a new governance structure that collapsed the ministries from 44 to18 and Monday authorities announced the changes are moving down to the lower cadres of the bloated public service. In a move aimed at reducing the spiralling wage bill and improving efficiency, officials announced “capacity assessment and rationalisation programme” aims to assess civil servants’ competences and match them with suitable roles through restructuring, redeployment and transfers.