Kisumu: Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei has called on public servants to adopt honest and achievable performance scorecards to meet the targets of respective ministries, departments, and state agencies. He emphasized the need for every public institution and officer to clearly understand their mandate and measure their delivery by candidly acknowledging existing gaps to satisfy the expectations of Kenyans. This appeal was made during the 2025 End-of-Year Public Service Reflection Dinner and Agenda Setting for 2026 in Kisumu.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event gathered Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, governors, Members of Parliament, heads of State corporations, constitutional commissions, and senior public servants. Koskei congratulated officers and institutions honored during the awards ceremony, describing their recognition as ‘the practical proof’ of the high-performance culture that the Government is entrenching. He encouraged those not feted to use the outcome as motivation to
‘stretch further’ for future honors.
Koskei highlighted that the awards mark a shift from symbolic recognition to performance-based distinction, noting that the Public Service is setting ‘uncompromising standards’ as the new minimum for public officers. Reflecting on the year, he acknowledged that service delivery had long been hindered by slow responses, delays, complacency, and decision postponements, which frustrated citizens. In 2025, deliberate efforts were made to confront these habits, with programs rolled out to orient public servants towards faster and more responsive service, aligning with the President’s call for a disciplined and honest Public Service.
Koskei described 2025 as a ‘rebuilding year’ for governance, with reforms targeting weakened structures, leadership responsibility, and coordination across the Public Service. He emphasized that every officer is now expected to understand their role and deliverables clearly. He also highlighted integrity and accountability gains, including the Zer
o Fault Audit campaign, which has strengthened financial controls and improved stewardship of public resources across State entities.
Progress in modernizing government operations through digital platforms was also reported by Koskei. New systems have enhanced transparency in official travel, expedited the processing of Power of Mercy petitions, and reduced costs within the correctional system. Ongoing engagements with regulatory authorities and widespread sensitization on Prompt Corrective Action are reinforcing discipline, compliance, and accountability in Government.
Looking ahead, Koskei stated that 2026 must mark the transition from laying foundations to delivering outcomes that citizens can ‘see, feel, and experience’ across the country. He reminded public servants that 2026 is the last full year for the Administration to demonstrate measurable impact before the 2027 General Elections, noting that Kenyans will judge performance based on jobs, economic resilience, and improved governance.
Koskei urged
institutions to prepare candid scorecards and embrace the 2026 task to ‘know your gap, own your gap, and close your gap,’ ensuring that the performance of the Administration becomes ‘an undeniable reality’ to Kenyans, with Government presence and services felt even in remote areas. ‘We have the tools, we have the direction, and we have the full support of the President,’ he said, calling on public servants to enter 2026 determined to close outstanding gaps and deepen reforms for the benefit of all Kenyans.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, the chief guest at the dinner, noted that the Public Service had recorded renewed coherence in 2025, driven by bold reforms and a stronger ethos of coordination and accountability. He stressed that integrity and accountability remain central to effective government, describing corruption as a betrayal of public trust and a threat to national development. Mbadi emphasized that corruption and service delivery ‘cannot coexist’ and called for the elimination of w
astage, curbing of non-essential expenditure, and stricter cost controls.
The meeting was attended by various Cabinet Secretaries, Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, alongside Principal Secretaries, legislators, leaders of Constitutional Commissions, Independent Offices, State Corporations, and public servants from across the country.
