President Ruto has directed all public service commissions to hire and promote strictly on merit, warning non-performers will be sanctioned "without apology."
Ruto Orders Merit-Only Hiring in State Jobs, Warns "Perform or Be Sanctioned"
President William Ruto has directed all public service recruitment commissions to strictly uphold merit, fairness, and transparency, signaling tougher times ahead for non-performing civil servants.
No More Promotions For Just Showing Up
Speaking at the National Productivity and Performance Conference at the Kenya School of Government, Ruto said career growth in government must be earned, not assumed.
"Promotion at work must be based on demonstrated results, never on mere longevity. Let advancement be the consequence of contribution," he said.
A Direct Order To The PSC
The President tasked the Public Service Commission with enforcing constitutional values in every public office.
"I task the Public Service Commission to ensure that the values enshrined in Article 10 and 232 of the Constitution become the living standard of every public office," he stated.
Reward And Sanction Without Apology
Ruto made it clear there would be consequences for poor performance, while top performers would be recognised.
"We will reward performers and innovators, and we will sanction non-performers without apology," he warned.
Learning From South Korea And Singapore
He linked the reforms to global examples, saying nations like South Korea and Singapore built their economic success on skilled, disciplined workers, and Kenya must follow the same path through continuous training in research, science, and technology.