Nairobi: Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has challenged Kenyan professionals to reclaim their place in national discourse, accusing them of retreating from governance and leaving the country’s development agenda to politicians, propaganda, and misinformation. Addressing a meeting of Bungoma County professionals at Kibabii University on Saturday, Koskei said the silence of professionals had allowed politics to overshadow development, making it difficult for Kenyans to objectively assess the government’s performance.
According to Kenya News Agency, Koskei urged professionals to actively evaluate, explain, and defend government programmes using facts and evidence, saying their involvement would help the country make informed decisions ahead of the 2027 General Election and enable President William Ruto to secure a second term to complete his development agenda. ‘For over 40 years, this country has been overrun by politics. The political class has dominated the national conversation to the extent that people can no longer distinguish truth from propaganda,’ Koskei stated.
He argued that professionals possess the expertise, integrity, and objectivity required to steer public discourse and restore confidence in governance. ‘Professionals are the true north of any society. Without them, there is speculation, misinformation, and guesswork. Expertise is not private property; it is a public asset that must be shared for the benefit of society,’ he emphasized.
Koskei warned that history would judge the current generation harshly if professionals continued watching from the sidelines while critical national decisions were shaped solely by politicians. He called on teachers, doctors, engineers, administrators, economists, and other experts to engage more actively in public affairs, including county and national budget-making processes, policy discussions, and development planning.
He expressed regret that professionals rarely participated in public participation forums, leaving major decisions to individuals without the technical knowledge to interrogate government proposals. ‘Whenever county budgets or development plans are presented for public participation, professionals stay away because they believe politics is beneath them. Yet they are the very people who should be shaping those decisions,’ Koskei lamented.
Koskei further urged professionals to independently assess the Kenya Kwanza administration’s manifesto and measure its implementation against the promises made during the 2022 election campaign. He noted that President Ruto was the first Kenyan leader to reduce campaign pledges into a structured manifesto complete with timelines and measurable targets.
Koskei defended several flagship programmes being implemented by the Kenya Kwanza administration, describing them as bold reforms that previous governments had avoided because of their political sensitivity. He cited reforms in the sugar sector, saying the government’s decision to lease state-owned sugar factories had revived production in western Kenya after years of decline.
He also defended the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying the transition from the previous health insurance system had experienced initial challenges but had since stabilized and was reducing the financial burden on families seeking medical care. Koskei highlighted the National Infrastructure Fund and the recently established Sovereign Wealth Fund as initiatives designed to reduce reliance on public borrowing and invest revenues from extractive industries for the benefit of future generations.
Koskei urged professionals to champion truthful conversations on the government’s achievements and shortcomings instead of allowing public debate to be dominated by political rhetoric. He concluded by urging professionals to take leadership in governance, policy development, and civic engagement, saying Kenya’s future depended not only on elected leaders but also on the willingness of experts to shape national development through informed participation.
Among those present at the meeting were Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, Public Service Principal Secretary Dr. Jane Imbunya, Industry Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukhwana, Tourism Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok, Mining Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai, and Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala. Also in attendance were the President’s Advisors Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani (Economy) and Harriette Chigai (Women’s Rights), alongside other senior government officials and professionals from the county.
