HOPS Reaffirms Resolve to Deepen Reforms and Restore Public Trust at Cabinet Retreat

On the second and final day of the National Executive Retreat held at the KCB Leadership Centre, the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, Mr Felix Koskei, delivered a powerful invocation reaffirming the Executive’s unwavering commitment to reform, service delivery, and national transformation.

Mr Koskei acknowledged the full presence of Cabinet Members, Principal Secretaries, and the Presidential Advisory Team, marking a Government united in purpose. He lauded the President’s leadership over the past two and a half years, noting that the machinery of State is now firmly in motion—driving education equity, economic renewal through agriculture, and the protection of vulnerable citizens under programmes such as Taifa Care.

He highlighted the evolving architecture of Government, pointing to a shift from chaos to coordination. He noted that where confusion once reigned in inter-branch relations, clarity and structure have now taken root. He cited new institutional frameworks—including the Arbitration Office, the Diaspora Investment Support Office, and the State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation—as tangible expressions of a Government retooled for impact.

Emphasising a renewed culture of discipline and integrity, the Head of Public Service detailed the wide-reaching sensitisation campaign targeting CEOs, State corporation boards, Vice-Chancellors, internal audit teams, and professional bodies. Through programmes such as the Zero Fault Audit and the digitisation of operations like FOTIMS, Mr Koskei affirmed that accountability is no longer optional—it is the standard.

He also addressed the strategic repositioning of the Ministry of Health during the implementation of Taifa Care, noting that when challenges emerged, Government responded with urgency and cohesion.

Looking ahead, Mr Koskei outlined plans to reimagine Kenya’s post-independence government structure, strengthen leadership training for senior officials, and establish a new induction framework. He stated that the vision is to build a cadre of public servants whose sense of duty matches that of those defending the country’s borders.

In a sharp warning, he identified corruption and impunity as the greatest threats to the momentum already gained. He announced that upon presidential assent to the Conflict of Interest Bill, an Executive Order will follow—placing the fight against graft directly in the hands of all Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries. “No more excuses. No more delays,” he declared.

Mr Koskei concluded by urging the President to extend the reform agenda across all arms and levels of Government. He emphasised that for the ordinary Kenyan, Government is not defined by branches, but by results. The call was clear: accountability must reach every county, every court, and every institution where public trust is at stake.