This archive report was first published on 25 July 2021.
Kenya's civil service is at a crossroads, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ordering the government to retrench the service, initiate pay cuts, and freeze workers' salaries to lower the public sector wage bill. However, ODM leader Raila Odinga has urged the government to save the civil service from deteriorating, emphasizing its crucial role in nation-building and national development.
Speaking on the matter, Raila stated, "Nations begin to fail when the civil service begins to fail. Over the years, Kenya has maintained a comparatively functional civil service. But there remains tremendous room for improvement."
He listed several strategies to strengthen the civil service, including addressing nepotism, tribalism, and favouritism, providing incentives for hardworking civil servants, designing a clear career progression path, eliminating conflict of interest, promoting creativity, and creating linkages between the government and private sector.
"Frustrated officers stay on just to secure pension and turn to other ways to supplement income and get fulfilment. They become brokers where they are supposed to be moderators. The nation and citizens are the losers," Raila stated.
He also emphasized the need for the civil service to adopt a more strategic approach, similar to the private sector, where thinking outside the box and innovation are essential for success.
"We made full use of the National Economic and Social Council with spectacular results in the Grand Coalition Government. We must borrow from the developed world where public policy think tanks are all over the place and are constant players in government," Raila advised.
