Institute of Human Resource Management national chairman Philip Odero gives a token of appreciation to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei during 11th Annual National Human Resource Congress at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has challenged human resource professionals to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism while spearheading transformative change across public and private institutions.
Koskei urged HR leaders to move beyond traditional administrative roles and become champions of innovation, institutional renewal, and servant leadership.
“The public service of the future must be anchored in trust, driven by innovation, and sustained by an empowered workforce,” he said.
He spoke at the closing ceremony of the 11th Annual National Human Resource Congress at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa.
Koskei called for a culture-first approach to digitisation, stressing that technology must enhance, and not replace, the human connection in service delivery.
“The digitisation of HR systems is no longer optional; it is an imperative. Yet, as we digitise, we must also humanise. Technology must be an enabler of inclusion, transparency, and performance, not a substitute for human connection.”
While commending the Institute of Human Resource Management for its leadership in professional regulation, Koskei urged the institute to more assertively enforce standards and foster a new era of principled, visionary HR leadership in Kenya.
“Institutionalising continuous learning is also critical to future-proof our workforce. This means re-skilling, enhancing digital literacy, and investing in leadership training to transform HR professionals into strategic leaders—not just administrative stewards,” he said.
Koskei reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a high-performing, ethical, and citizen-focused public service.
“My office remains steadfast in creating a policy and operational environment that supports a responsive and values-driven public sector. This is reflected in the Public Private Development Sector Partnership Framework on Human Capital Development, which we intend to operationalise as a model of collaborative excellence,” he said.
The four-day congress brought together HR professionals, CEOs, public servants, and industry leaders under the theme, “Re-imagining HR: Navigating strategy, people and technology.”
Koskei said the theme aligns with the government’s broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (Beta), which calls for an agile, inclusive, and performance-driven public workforce grounded in servant leadership.
HR must evolve into a strategic function, deeply embedded in policy and governance frameworks.
“We are committed to elevating HR so that talent management informs national planning. This will usher in intentional leadership through targeted development programmes that cultivate resilience, foresight, and moral clarity,” he said.
Koskei also proposed the development of a National Leadership Culture Blueprint to guide consistent, values-based leadership across government agencies.
“To actualise these commitments, we must embed organisational culture as a strategic lever of reform, digitise HR systems with a culture-first lens, and strengthen cross-sector HR networks through knowledge-sharing, research, and harmonized policy action."
