Mudavadi Pushes for New Promotion Rules Affecting Public Servants in All 47 Counties

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for changes to Kenya’s public service promotion system, proposing that government employees advance in their careers based on performance and measurable results.

Speaking in Kisumu on Monday, November 9, during the National Forum of County Public Service Boards Annual Convention, Mudavadi said performance contracts should have a direct connection to promotions and career progression.

He argued that performance evaluations should not remain routine paperwork but should help determine whether employees deserve recognition and advancement.

“Performance contracts should not just be a ritual; they must be a legal obligation that links performance to the fair promotion of public servants,” he said.

Mudavadi challenged County Public Service Boards to strengthen merit-based recruitment and ensure that promotions are guided by competence, productivity and fairness rather than favouritism.

He also urged the boards to create working environments that encourage professional development, innovation and accountability.

The convention brought together representatives from public service boards across all 47 counties to discuss workforce management, institutional performance and service delivery.

If adopted, the proposed framework could influence how county employees are assessed and considered for promotion. It could also increase pressure on public institutions to demonstrate that their employees are delivering measurable results.

However, Mudavadi’s remarks were a call for legal reform, not an announcement that new promotion rules have already taken effect.

The government has not yet published a final framework detailing how performance would be measured, when the proposed changes would begin or how public servants could challenge unfair assessments.

The proposal has therefore opened another discussion about fairness, accountability and career growth within Kenya’s public service.

Afriscope feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com