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President William Ruto has initiated austerity measures aimed at addressing public dissatisfaction with his administration resulting in significant changes across government and state-owned enterprises.
A key directive mandates immediate retirement for public officers aged 60 and above, affecting institutions like the National Social Security Fund and Kenya School of Government known for retaining aging staff to the detriment of younger job seekers.
Uncertainty looms over whether the directive applies to state officers appointed directly by President Ruto such as Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, who have reached retirement age. Concurrently the suspension of Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) hiring has dashed hopes for 50 politicians, mostly 2022 election losers, who were lined up for these positions pending a High Court decision.
Further reforms include the dissolution of 47 state corporations with overlapping functions, aimed at reducing operational costs and integrating their roles into relevant ministries. This move will also involve transferring affected staff to other state agencies.
President Ruto also announced a reduction in government advisers, citing excesses highlighted by the Public Service Commission. The Commission's report identified instances where advisers in offices like Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's exceeded authorized numbers, sometimes assuming undue authority over ministry technical staff.
These measures underscore President Ruto's commitment to streamlining government operations, cutting costs, and enhancing efficiency amid public scrutiny over governance and fiscal responsibility.
Link
https://x.com/ntvkenya/status/1809591889064005678?t=dGYKBcpGBpNY5u5Dn8bExQ&s=19