Building a values-driven Public Service for Kenya’s productivity agenda

BY FRANCIS MEJA

The recently concluded National Productivity and Performance Conference 2026 will be remembered as a defining milestone in Kenya’s quest for a modern, efficient, and citizen-centred public service.

More than a forum for dialogue, it signalled a national commitment to transform productivity from aspiration into a measurable driver of governance, economic growth, and service delivery.

Among the resolutions adopted, Resolution Four stands out as the most transformative.

It commits all public institutions to build a productive, values-driven, and high-performance public service by strengthening human capital development, organisational culture transformation, and change management.

The ambitious target is to raise compliance with constitutional values and principles from the current performance index of 46.5 per cent to at least 75 per cent by June 2028. This is not simply another reform target.

It represents a shift in how productivity is understood in government. Productivity is no longer about doing more with fewer resources; it is about creating institutions where integrity, innovation, accountability, and professionalism define how public servants work and how citizens experience government.

The conference affirmed a truth increasingly evident worldwide: sustainable public sector transformation begins with people. Technology, policies, and systems remain essential, but they cannot substitute for competent, ethical, and motivated public servants.

Organisational culture ultimately determines whether reforms succeed or fail. Under Article 234 of the Constitution, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is mandated to establish and abolish offices, appoint and promote officers, exercise disciplinary control, develop human resource standards, promote public service values, and evaluate compliance across institutions.

Resolution Four therefore reinforces the Commission’s constitutional responsibility to build a professional, ethical, and high-performing public service. The PSC’s role extends far beyond recruitment.

It is entrusted with shaping the quality of leadership and human capital across government. Every merit-based appointment, competency framework, leadership development initiative, and compliance assessment contributes to building a public service capable of meeting the expectations of a rapidly changing society.

The conference also underscored that productivity must become part of organisational culture rather than remain an annual reporting exercise.

High-performing institutions are distinguished by leadership that inspires innovation, rewards excellence, upholds integrity, and embraces continuous improvement.

They encourage learning, adapt to change, and place citizens at the centre of decision-making. These are the values the PSC continues to champion. Indeed, the journey towards implementing Resolution Four began long before the conference. 

The Commission has strengthened competency-based recruitment and promotion, mainstreamed productivity across institutions, invested in leadership and human capital development, supported digital transformation and AI skills, advanced diversity and inclusion, reinforced integrity systems, and promoted continuous learning throughout the public service.

These initiatives are designed to embed productivity into everyday government culture rather than treat it as a compliance exercise.

Equally important is accountability. Achieving 75 per cent compliance with constitutional values by 2028 will require deliberate measurement, evidence-based decision-making, and sustained institutional commitment.

The PSC will continue working with Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Constitutional Commissions, and County Governments to strengthen human capital, monitor compliance with Articles 10 and 232, promote organisational transformation, and support reforms that improve service delivery.

Its constitutional responsibility to evaluate and report on compliance provides a vital mechanism for ensuring institutions remain accountable for progress.

Productivity must be measured not only by outputs but also by the quality, integrity, and responsiveness of services delivered to citizens.

During the conference, His Excellency President William Ruto challenged the PSC to ensure that merit, fairness, and performance remain the foundation of recruitment, promotion, and career progression, while constitutional values become the living standards of every public officer.

That call reinforces a simple but profound reality: the future of Kenya’s public service depends on a workforce that is competent, values-driven, and committed to excellence

However, achieving the aspirations of Resolution Four cannot be the responsibility of the PSC alone. Every public institution must embrace this agenda. Accounting officers must champion organisational transformation.

Managers must invest in their people. Public servants must commit to lifelong learning, innovation, and ethical leadership. Productivity is ultimately a shared responsibility.

Ultimately, every Kenyan should experience the benefits of a productive public service through faster services, transparent institutions, responsive government, and greater confidence that public resources are creating public value. The writer is the Chairperson, Public Service Commission.