The Star News Brief: Permanent jobs era to give way to 5-year stints in civil service

CS Ruku Orders Fresh Crackdown on Civil Servants

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has ordered all Kenyan government entities to activate and maintain accessible communication channels, warning that inactive platforms hinder service delivery. This directive follows an inspection of government offices in Kisumu on Thursday, January 29, where he stressed the importance of timely services and clear communication for citizens.

Govt Unveils Plan to Employ More Civil Servants and Increase Pay

The Kenyan government is expanding public service internship opportunities and implementing hardship allowances for civil servants. These initiatives aim to address unemployment and recognize the challenges faced by public officers in difficult areas.

Govt Reveals Category of Most Lazy Civil Servants, Warns of Salary Action

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has criticized senior civil servants for poor work ethic, labeling them the least productive group in government and threatening salary and payroll action. He noted that senior officers delegate duties to juniors while being absent or reporting irregularly, which impairs service delivery.

Cabinet Okays Changes to Civil Servants' Payroll

Kenya's Cabinet has approved comprehensive payroll reforms following a special audit of the 2024–2025 financial year that revealed widespread integrity issues and governance failures within the Government Human Resource Information System-Kenya (HRIS-K). The overhaul aims to ensure uniform application of statutory deductions across all public entities and address anomalies like altered payroll records and weak cybersecurity.

Govt to Reduce Taxes for Select Kenyans, CS Mbadi Reveals

The Kenyan government plans to offer tax relief to citizens earning less than Ksh30,000 per month, a move announced by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi. This initiative, which has the approval of President William Ruto, aims to stimulate economic demand by increasing disposable income for lower-earning Kenyans.