President William Ruto has directed the Public Service Commission (PSC) to accelerate the digitisation of its operations, warning that the institution risks becoming obsolete if it fails to embrace technology and modernise service delivery.
Ruto said the public service must be transformed into a modern, efficient and technology-driven institution capable of supporting Kenya's transition into a first-world economy.
"Digitalisation must be institutionalised at the PSC in shifting the organisation away from manual and paper-heavy systems towards data-driven and automated models to increase efficiency and create value," Ruto said after receiving a briefing from the Commission at State House, Nairobi.
He warned that embracing digital systems was no longer optional, saying failure to modernise would undermine the Commission's ability to effectively serve Kenyans.
"This is urgent and necessary; otherwise the PSC is in danger of becoming obsolete and consequently unable to effectively serve Kenya and Kenyans," he said.
The President said the reforms are part of broader efforts to reposition the public service to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy and improve service delivery across government institutions.
Ruto also directed the Commission to significantly expand its internship programme to provide more opportunities for college and university graduates entering the job market.
"PSC should expand the internship programme to provide workplace experience to many more college and university graduates," he said.
The President noted that increasing internship opportunities would help bridge the gap between education and employment by equipping young graduates with practical skills and experience needed in the workplace.
He further called for improvements to the performance contracting system across the public service, saying it should focus more on measuring the impact of public servants rather than simply assessing processes.
"The Commission should perfect performance contracting to measure the impact of public servants in the service to Kenyans," he said.
The President's remarks come as the government pushes ahead with reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and productivity in the public sector through greater use of technology and performance-based management.
The Public Service Commission plays a central role in recruitment, promotion, discipline and human resource management across the public service.
The latest directives signal the government's intention to align public service operations with its digital transformation agenda while creating more employment pathways for young graduates through expanded internship opportunities.
The reforms are also expected to strengthen accountability in government by ensuring public institutions focus on delivering measurable results and improved services to citizens.
