Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku [RUKU/X]Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has said that President William Ruto instructed him to ensure that meritocracy must be the guiding principle in public service moving forward.
Speaking during a media interview at TV47, Ruku emphasised that appointments and promotions will now be based strictly on qualifications, competence, and performance, not favouritism or connections.
He noted that this shift aims to enhance efficiency, accountability, and trust in public institutions, aligning with the President’s broader governance and reform agenda.
"The instructions which I have from the Head of government, the President, is that meritocracy moving forward must be the norm within the public sector. That people are going to be promoted and get jobs on merit," he stated.
The CS said the government would reinstitute several measures to streamline the public sector, even as it respects the independence of the Public Service Commission (PSC).
He acknowledged that the PSC has done a commendable job in the past but reiterated the need to uphold meritocracy to ensure efficiency and fairness in public service delivery in all state institutions.
CS Ruku further stated that he had issued a set of instructions to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to conduct their recruitment process for the chairperson position in a transparent manner, not behind closed doors in a boardroom.
This was after the Human Rights Commission advertised the position of Chairperson months after the death of former Chair Roseline Odede.
He emphasised that openness and accountability are essential in building public trust and ensuring that only qualified individuals are selected for public roles.
"I instructed them (KNCHR) that they can't do the recruitment of the chairman of the commission in a boardroom. Let Kenyans see who you are interviewing and the qualifications of the guys who will be coming to the panel," he said.
The CS also addressed the allegations that other leaders were issuing recruitment and appointment letters to teachers outside the jurisdiction of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Ruku said he was not aware whether other leaders were issuing recruitment letters to teachers, but affirmed that all future recruitment would be based on merit.
"Moving forward, assuming there are search kind of cases, we will be insisting that recruitment of teachers must be on merit basis and these are the instructions which I have from the President," he stated.
