No more laxity for public officers as government rolls out new disciplinary system
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said officers who repeatedly fall short of set targets or disregard lawful instructions will now face formal sanctions under a new performance management framework.
All ministries, state departments and agencies have been directed to implement a structured disciplinary system within 21 days as the government moves to tighten enforcement of performance standards in public service.
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said officers who repeatedly fall short of set targets or disregard lawful instructions will now face formal sanctions under a new performance management framework.
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“The message is clear and consistent. Administratively, the rules are known, and so are the consequences. Disregard of lawful instructions will attract formal reprimand or corrective action. Repeated failure to meet performance targets will trigger structured interventions or sanctions as appropriate,” Koskei said during a consultative session with Principal Secretaries and Heads of Legal, HR, Audit, Procurement and Standing Committees on Wednesday.
The meeting aimed to operationalise the Matrix of Legal Consequences for Infractions, a structured framework outlining disciplinary measures for misconduct, non-performance, and failure to follow lawful directives.
“All ministries, state departments, and agencies are required to cascade the framework, conduct officer briefings, obtain signed acknowledgements, and submit compliance returns within 21 days,” Koskei added.
He emphasised that the framework mandates prompt corrective action and the enforcement of lawful consequences for infractions, as part of wider reforms aimed at optimising public service delivery and restoring discipline in government operations.
The renewed push for accountability comes amid heightened government efforts to address poor service delivery and laxity in the public sector.
Just two weeks earlier, on July 15, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku warned that civil servants who report to work late or are frequently absent would be treated as ghost workers.
On July 17, Ruku announced the development of a mandatory mobile application that will monitor civil servants’ attendance, punctuality and output in real time. He said the digital system would help address absenteeism, improve productivity and restore public confidence in government institutions.
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