Geoffrey Ruku, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, has announced plans to transition all civil servants from permanent and pensionable employment terms to contract-based arrangements.
Speaking on Thursday, February 26, during the launch of the Public Service Commission Strategic Plan 2025–2029, Ruku stated that the proposal forms part of a broader Public Service Transformation Policy currently being developed by his ministry.
He revealed that he intends to present the proposal to a Cabinet committee next week, after which it will be tabled before the full Cabinet in March for consideration.
“We are working on a Public Service Transformation Policy, which I will present to the Cabinet committee next week, and later to the full Cabinet in March,” Ruku said.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, if the proposal is approved, public servants will be employed on renewable contracts lasting three or five years, with renewals strictly tied to performance targets. Those who meet their contractual obligations and demonstrate satisfactory performance will have their contracts renewed, while those who fail to deliver on agreed targets will be required to exit the public service.
“You will be given a contract for three or five years. If you perform well, your contract will be renewed for another term. If you fail to meet the contractual requirements, you will have to seek employment elsewhere,” he explained.
Ruku argued that the move is intended to address what he described as a culture of impunity and entitlement within parts of the public sector. He noted that permanent and pensionable employment terms have, in some instances, contributed to complacency among certain public servants.
During the meeting, the CS cited absenteeism in public offices as a major concern informing the proposed reforms. He observed that while interns often report to work on time, some of their supervisors frequently fail to do so, which he described as evidence of growing complacency among long-serving officers.
“All the young people placed in public offices by this commission report early to work, yet their supervisors are sometimes absent at the required time,” Ruku noted.
He maintained that shifting to performance-based contracts would enhance accountability, strengthen discipline, and ultimately improve service delivery across government institutions.