Kenya eyes new public service rules to transform sector

NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Tuesday kicked off a meeting aimed at drafting new public service guidelines to replace old regulations put in place in 2005 which aim to transform the service into a more effective sector.

The stakeholder validation workshop, which was attended by heads of state corporations and public universities, sought views on proposed regulations whose ultimate goal is to transform the public service into an operational sector to catalyze attainment of Kenya's national development goals.

"The new regulations will give effect to new systems, which once gazetted, will complete the process of aligning the legal and operational framework in accordance with the Constitution," said Peter Nkuraiyia, acting chairperson of the Public Service Commission in his opening remarks.

"The workshop provides an opportunity to bring expertise and make recommendations that will help to deliver a document to guide the commission and all public institutions in the management of human resource not only in the civil service, but also state corporations for many years to come," he added.

According to experts, public sector faces challenges that are still largely characterized with poor service delivery which is more processed-based than it is result oriented, where a poor understanding of the fundamental principle of serving rather than dictating to citizens is still in the mindset.

Nkuraiya said the commission will endeavor to promote a public service that is driven by ethics and standards and which accommodates national diversity, adding that they have already initiated numerous reform measures with the ultimate goal of transforming the entire sector into a dynamic, value-driven, professional, transparent, dependable, and effective service.

Alice Otwala, the Public Service Commission CEO, said the journey to deliver new regulations cannot be complete without the active participation of state corporations, considering that they are a key stakeholder just as the mainstream civil service.

"After our last forum in February, it emerged that state corporations needed a forum to ventilate and interrogate the proposals a little further considering that they will be subject to the regulations once they are gazette," the CEO noted. Enditem