Kenya’s government has announced a sweeping 50% reduction in the number of advisors to Cabinet Secretaries, as part of a broader austerity measures package aimed at enhancing fiscal discipline and efficiency in the public service.
The directive, issued by Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, comes in the wake of President William Ruto’s recent address outlining interventions to streamline government operations and restore public faith in state institutions.
In a circular letter dated 10th July 2024, Mr. Koskei informed all Cabinet Secretaries of the immediate implementation of the presidential directive. “His Excellency the President directed THAT the number of advisors in government be reduced by 50% with immediate effect,” the letter stated, underscoring the urgency of the measure.
The move will see each Cabinet Secretary’s advisory team cut from two to one, with personal staff capped at two in line with existing Public Service Commission guidelines. This drastic reduction is part of what Koskei described as “policy interventions aimed at ensuring that the sacrifices made by taxpayers are matched by fiscal discipline in the public service.”
The Chief of Staff emphasized the broader objectives behind the directive, stating that “The measures announced also seek to restore faith in public institutions by enhancing accountability, transparency, and the strengthening of good governance within them.”
Cabinet Secretaries have been given a tight deadline to comply with the new directive. They are required to submit the name of their chosen advisor to the Public Service Commission, with a copy to the Chief of Staff’s office, by close of business on Thursday, 11th July 2024. The letter firmly states that “Any advisors beyond the set threshold will be immediately phased out from the Public Service.”
This move comes as part of a larger package of austerity measures announced by President Ruto on Friday, 5th July 2024. The government’s decision to trim its advisory corps signals a commitment to lean and efficient governance, potentially setting a precedent for further cost-cutting measures across other areas of public administration.
