Eliud Owalo, Deputy Chief of Staff for Delivery and Government Efficiency, has outlined the Kenyan government’s strategy to tackle corruption by motivating public servants through better pay.

In a recent interview on a local TV station on September 15, 2025, Owalo said that enhancing staff welfare is a key step toward reducing corruption and curbing the pilferage of public funds.

Owalo emphasised, “We need to enhance staff motivation by paying those we have in the public sector well. That would perhaps be one of the ways to eliminate corruption and the pilferage of public coffers in government.”

He cited past successes in the agriculture sector, noting that digitalisation had helped eliminate cartels that previously hoarded farm supplies and charged exorbitant prices.

“Initially, the agriculture sector had cartels that hoarded farm supplies and charged exorbitant prices. We have since weeded them out through digitalisation,” he said, highlighting the government’s commitment to leveraging technology for efficiency and transparency.

Economic stabilisation

Owalo also discussed broader economic strategies under President William Ruto’s administration, stating, “President Ruto stabilised the shilling against the dollar, which is a major economic boost. We invested heavily in domestic revenue as opposed to direct foreign capital inflows.”

He further outlined the government’s ambitious infrastructure agenda, particularly in housing: “We shall speed up the rollout of 200,000 affordable houses annually and ensure we meet this target. The big question is: Do we need the houses? Are we on the right trajectory? Is this creating impact? The answer is YES.”

Owalo added that the digital shift will enhance accountability: “This digital shift will seal loopholes while fostering transparency and accountability in the use of public resources. Kenyans have a right to know how their taxes are spent, and embracing e-procurement will ensure every transaction is open and traceable for public auditing.”