Muturi bill plots radical public service reforms

PUBLIC Service CS Justin Muturi has proposed far-reaching reforms in the sector.

Through the Public Service Human Resource Management and Development Bill, 2024, the CS is seeking to better define the role of the head of public service in the management of civil servants.

If enacted, the Head of Public Service, currently Felix Koskei, would have authority over the overall management and administration of the public service.

“The bill also seeks to provide for the adoption and application of uniform norms and standards in Kenya, while also establishing the Office of the Head of Public Service,” Muturi says in the bill’s memorandum. .

The HOPS would also be empowered to review human resource management policies and keep custody of the public seal.

Muturi has proposed a central human resource management posting committee for the deployment of senior officers in the public service.

 “The central HR management posting committee will consult with the Public Service Commission in the performance of its function,” the bill reads.

The bill seeks to put the Ministry of Public Service at the centre of managing staff.

The ministry would have custody of an information system the government is building to weed out ghost workers and clean the public service payroll.

Every year, as per the bill, the ministry would conduct payroll audits in public service entities. It would also develop, maintain and secure a unified payroll number allocation system for the public service.

The proposed bill further indicates that the ministry would be required to provide a platform for integrating public service employees’ data.

“Public service entities shall subscribe to the Unified Human Resource Information System developed and maintained by the ministry,” the bill reads.

Muturi wants the Public Service Ministry mandated to coordinate medical insurance cover for civil servants and payment of pensions.

“The ministry shall, in consultation with the National Treasury, develop a policy for seamless remittance of public service employees’ contribution to pension accounts.”

It is also being put in law that all public service employees are issued with a unified payroll number. The entry restrictions are also being tightened.

“Every ministry shall ensure that no person is introduced in the payroll without the approval of the accounting officer of a public service entity,” the bill reads.

In the new dispensation, public service entities would be required to clean payroll data every three months and submit reports to the ministry.

The bill also provides that the ministry would, in consultation with SRC, set and review the remuneration of public officers “other than state officers’”.

“The ministry responsible for public service shall promote fairness and equity in the remuneration of public officers,” the proposed bill adds.

It also gives the ministry lead roles in the recognition of professional qualifications in the public service. The Cabinet approved the bill on March 11.

“The principal object of the bill is to provide an overarching framework for the effective management and development of human resources by the national and county governments,” its memo reads.

Muturi recently led a high-level meeting with senior ministry officials, joined by PS Amos Gatheca, to outline the next steps of the reforms plan.

“With the Cabinet’s approval of this landmark bill, we are now focusing on implementation,” the CS said.