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.
