Cabinet Secretaries given until Thursday to halve number of advisers

Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has directed all Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) to reduce their advisory teams by half, effective immediately.

In a letter dated July 8, 2024, Koskei said each CS is required to retain only one advisor, down from the previous two, alongside two personal staffers.

This follows President William Ruto's directive to reduce the number of advisors in government by 50 per cent, to ensure that taxpayer sacrifices are met with increased accountability and transparency within the institutions.

In this regard, Koskei said CSs have until Thursday, July 11, 2024, to submit the name of their chosen advisor to the Public Service Commission, to restructure advisory roles within their administration.

He warned that any advisors beyond the set threshold would be immediately phased out from the Public Service.

“I refer to the Presidential Address of Friday, July 5, 2024, during which His Excellency the President announced a raft of austerity measures and other State interventions geared towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Government. By dint of that Presidential Action, the number of advisors assigned to each Cabinet Secretary has been revised from two to one. Additionally, the number of personal staff attached to you will remain as set out in the Public Service Commission guidelines being two staffers,” Koskei said.

“Consequently, you are requested to assess the requirements of your office and indicate the advisor you would wish to retain to support you in the discharge of your portfolio mandate. Submit to the Public Service Commission the full name of the advisor to be retained, with a copy to this Office, by the close of business on Thursday, July 11, 2024.”

Koskei noted that the measures also seek to restore faith in public institutions by enhancing accountability, transparency, and the strengthening of good governance within them.

President Ruto had called for the reduction of government advisors by 50 per cent, as part of broader austerity measures aimed at aligning expenditures with budgetary constraints following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024.

In addition to restructuring advisory roles, Ruto announced the dissolution of 47 state corporations with overlapping mandates, effective immediately.

“The 47 state corporations with overlapping will be dissolved and their mandate transferred to ministries and state agencies. We are determined to carry out these and other changes to improve the quality, efficiency, and transparency in serving the people of Kenya and ensure that citizens receive maximum value for their resources from a public sector that prioritises their welfare," Ruto said.

He emphasised that these measures are essential for delivering on the bottom-up economic transformation agenda and maximising public resources for the benefit of all Kenyans.

These reforms, he said, are expected to pave the way for Kenya's economic advancement and create more opportunities for its citizens, aligning with the administration's commitment to fostering sustainable development and equitable growth.