KENYA
Kenya’s Public Service is about to experience an unprecedented round of promotions as nearly 60,000 Government workers prepare to retire over the next three years.
The Ministry of Public Service has directed all Government Agencies to carry out a staff audit by 28 September, with Cabinet Secretary, Margaret Kobia (pictured) saying the promotion drive would plug capacity gaps and address inadequate succession planning.
Treasury data shows that more than 10 per cent, or 59,400, of the half a million public sector workers will retire by June 2020, amid fears that the State will be forced to retain some workers beyond the retirement age of 60 due to a skills shortage.
The most affected staff are in the senior management levels and technical cadres with critical skills and competencies.
Professor Kobia said the promotions of mid-level Public Servants would create space for recruitment and training of young professionals at entry and any other available levels within the Public Service structure to rejuvenate the service.
She said data she had received showed the Public Service was already operating at 65 per cent of its optimal staff strength.
“Of the number in post, 53 per cent are support staff with only 47 per cent being technical, including those with critical skills,” Professor Kobia said.
“We plan to introduce management traineeships this year to fast-track graduates into executive roles, trigger promotions and review the blanket ban of fresh hiring to ease effects of the ageing workforce.”
Critics said however the plan would further inflate an already ballooning PS wage bill.
Nairobi, 21 August, 2018
