Ruto embarks on major public service overhaul with chiefs at the centre
By Kiprono Keileb, December 1, 2025President William Ruto has said the government is undertaking a major restructuring of the public service, beginning with the training and upskilling of grassroots officers who are the first link between citizens and state services.
In a statement shared on X on Monday, December 1, 2025, the President said the administration is now focused on professionalising the public sector, making it more efficient and effective.
“We are professionalising the public sector, making it more efficient and effective, to enhance the delivery of services to Kenyans,” Ruto stated
He noted that chiefs and assistant chiefs remain central to government operations, especially in rural and peri-urban communities where they coordinate key programmes and maintain administrative order.
Ruto said the recent training targeted close to 6,000 chiefs and assistant chiefs, describing them as the country’s frontline officers at the grassroots.
“The training of close to 6,000 chiefs and assistant chiefs – our frontline officers at the grassroots – will strengthen their operations and facilitate orderly implementation of Government projects,” the statement reads
He said the exercise would strengthen their operations and facilitate the orderly implementation of Government projects, noting that the last comprehensive training for National Government Administration Officers was conducted nearly a decade ago, in 2016.
“The last training of National Government Administration Officers was conducted in 2016,” he stated
The President spoke after presiding over the ceremony at the National Police College, Embakasi ‘A’ Campus, where the officers officially graduated.
“Presided over the historic graduation of chiefs and assistant chiefs at the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ Campus, Nairobi County,” he stated
He acknowledged that the work chiefs and assistant chiefs have already been doing within their communities, particularly their involvement in registering farmers on the government’s digital platform. According to the President, the exercise has already captured more than seven million farmers across the country.
Ruto said this progress demonstrated the officers’ commitment to public service.
“We honour these officers for their dedication in serving the public, especially the registration of farmers on a digital platform, which has so far recorded more than 7 million farmers,” he stated.
The graduation now paves the way for the officers to take up expanded responsibilities under the government’s new administrative framework, which seeks greater efficiency, accountability, and digital integration across all levels of service delivery.