Kenya has received international recognition for its outstanding strides in technology and public service delivery during the 2025 Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA) held Thursday evening in Cape Town, South Africa.
In a glittering ceremony attended by top government officials, innovators, and policymakers from across the continent, Kenya emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) was crowned best technologically transformed government Institution, marking a major milestone in the country’s ongoing digital transformation agenda.
NTSA Director General George Njao was also celebrated as one of Africa’s leading reformists, walking away with two major individual honours, Public Sector Personality of the Year and Transformation CEO of the Year.
His leadership has been credited with steering NTSA into a fully digital, paperless institution that has revolutionised service delivery within Kenya’s transport sector.
Under Njao’s guidance, NTSA has digitised all its core operations, enabling Kenyans to access services such as licensing, vehicle registration, and driver testing through an integrated online platform.
The Authority’s digital portal has significantly reduced queues at NTSA offices, minimised paperwork, and eliminated the need for physical contact between staff and clients, a move that has curtailed corruption and improved efficiency.
“Less human interaction between clients and our staff not only enhances efficiency but also reduces opportunities for compromise and corruption,” said Njao in his acceptance speech.
“Ultimately, this has led to citizen-centric service delivery and increased revenue for the government.”
The APSCA Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in Africa’s public sector.
It recognises individuals and institutions that demonstrate leadership, creativity, and measurable impact in governance and service delivery.
This year’s theme, “Innovating for Africa’s Transformation,” focused on how governments are harnessing digital tools to drive development and transparency.
Kenya’s strong performance at the awards reinforces its growing status as a continental leader in the adoption of technology to improve governance.
From the eCitizen platform to NTSA’s smart service reforms, Kenya continues to demonstrate how digital transformation can streamline bureaucracy, enhance accountability, and empower citizens.
The recognition also serves as a morale booster for other public sector agencies pursuing innovation as part of President William Ruto’s broader digital economy strategy, which aims to position Kenya as Africa’s innovation hub.
APSCA is an annual event bringing together African government leaders, public sector actors, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss challenges and innovations in governance, public service delivery, and development.
Alongside the conference component (panels, keynote speeches, dialogues), there is an awards segment recognizing excellence in public sector leadership, innovation, transformation, service delivery, and adoption of digital solutions.
