- They are the Presidential Directives Management Information System and the Foreign Travel Management Information System.
- They are effective from August 1.
Image: PCS
To modernise Kenya’s public service, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has introduced two cutting-edge digital systems: the Presidential Directives Management Information System and the Foreign Travel Management Information System.
These systems, implemented from August 1, are expected to transform the way government operations are carried out, ushering in an era of transparency, accountability and efficiency.
President William Ruto issues directives and pronouncements in both formal and informal engagements, but their execution has sometimes been inefficient, often resulting in delays and lack of accountability. In compliance with Article 135 of the Constitution, the Presidential Pronouncements & Presidential Policy Implementation unit receives these directives, translates them into formal documents, and distributes them to ministries and state departments for implementation.
They are monitored by Koskei’s office.
A presidential directive is a critical governance tool that provides clear guidance on policy implementation, exercising the president’s executive authority to ensure government actions align with national objectives. It aims to promote coordination and uniformity across ministries and agencies, and it establishes accountability, and facilitates swift action during crises, for instance. Additionally, directives are a bridge between legislation and practical governance, and they help manage public expectations by communicating the government’s priorities and actions. Overall, they are essential for effective management and oversight within the Executive branch...
Historically, this process has been largely manual, fraught with challenges common to any manual system—delays, miscommunication, and potential loss or misplacement of documents. The introduction of the PDMIS will address these challenges head-on. By automating the issuance and tracking of presidential directives, it ensures all directives are uniformly distributed and their implementation closely monitored.
The elimination of hard copies in favour of a centralised digital platform will not only reduce the risk of document loss or manipulation but also enable real-time tracking of progress, thus holding Ministries and State Departments accountable for timely execution.
In the same vein, the FOTIMS will revolutionise the process of foreign travel clearances for senior government officials, addressing many issues that have long plagued the system. Currently, foreign travel clearance for all Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, chairpersons, and CEOs of State Corporations is obtained from the President through the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service. The process has historically been tedious, characterised by a lengthy application procedure, long turnaround times, a complex approval process, and the frequent production of paper records—all of which are vulnerable to loss or misplacement.
FOTIMS addresses these inefficiencies by digitising the entire process, ensuring applications and approvals are handled swiftly and transparently. This system not only streamlines the process but also enhances prudence and cost-effectiveness by reducing the need for paper records and minimising delays that can lead to unnecessary expenses.
Additionally, FOTIMS provides real-time information on the whereabouts of senior ranks of the Executive at any given time, offering a level of oversight that was previously unattainable in government. The system also will track the details of acting officers during periods when substantive officeholders are on foreign travel, ensuring continuity and accountability in government operations.
The implementation of these systems aligns with the government's broader agenda of digital transformation. By embracing technology, Kenya is positioning itself as a leader in e-governance, ensuring that its public service is not only more efficient but also more responsive to the needs of its citizens. Koskei, whose role includes supervision of all Principal Secretaries, has been demanding better quality services and government delivery. The shift to digital platforms reflects a commitment to reduce government expenditure, with the potential to save millions of shillings that would otherwise be spent on paper, printing, and physical storage.
These systems are not just about efficiency; they are about instilling a culture of transparency and accountability within the public service. By making information readily accessible and processes more transparent, these platforms empower both government officials and the public to hold each other accountable. This is a critical step in the fight against corruption, which has long been an obstacle to Kenya’s development.
Koskei has been instrumental in transforming Kenya's Public Service through a range of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency. In addition to these technological advancements, he has been at the forefront of the fight against corruption within the public sector. He has led a crackdown on graft, particularly in high-spending institutions and county governments, where he has addressed issues such as nepotism, misuse of procurement processes, and bloated workforce numbers due to political interference.
From the time he took office in 2022, Koskei has emphasised the need for public officials to adhere to ethical standards, warning that those found engaging in corrupt practices will be held personally accountable. His efforts are part of a broader government strategy focused on preventing corruption by limiting opportunities for unethical behaviour, rather than relying solely on investigations and prosecutions because these processes have also been problematic with many plundering public resources. President Ruto’s digital transformation agenda, spearheaded through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, aims to revolutionise the public service and economy by harnessing of technology.
Political commentator