The government is considering a radical overhaul of its public sector employment system, with a proposal to transition all civil servants from permanent and pensionable positions to contract-based terms.
The controversial move, aimed at boosting productivity and curbing the nation’s mounting wage bill, has set the stage for a high-stakes meeting between top officials.
The revelation comes from a letter addressed to the Solicitor General by Amos Gathecha, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management.
In the correspondence dated April 23, 2024, Gathecha requests the nomination of a senior officer to attend the meeting and “strategize on actualizing the proposal.”
“The above proposal has been made with a view to enhancing productivity and addressing the wage bill,” Gathecha writes, underscoring the government’s motivation behind the potential seismic shift.
The development follows a public statement by Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who declared, “I will move to Cabinet to present a proposal that all government workers be converted to contract. There will be no permanent but rather contract and pensionable.”
If implemented, the transition could fundamentally alter the landscape of public sector employment in Kenya, upending long-standing traditions and raising concerns among civil servants about job security and retirement benefits.
Analysts suggest the move could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it may introduce greater flexibility and accountability within the public workforce.
However, critics argue that it could erode institutional memory, diminish expertise within government ranks, and potentially discourage talented individuals from pursuing careers in public service.
