Ruto: I will sanction nonperformers without apology
By Aloys Michael, June 19, 2026President William Ruto has issued a firm warning to underperforming public servants, saying his administration will not hesitate to take action against those who fail to deliver results.
Speaking on Friday, June 19, 2026, during the inaugural National Productivity and Performance Conference at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, Ruto said the government is overhauling performance management systems to focus on measurable outcomes rather than routine activity.
The President emphasised that career progression in the public sector should be determined by performance and contribution rather than years spent in service, noting that his administration is investing in human capital development as part of broader efforts to transform service delivery across government institutions.
Ruto said the government is determined to create a culture where excellence is rewarded and poor performance carries consequences.
“To entrench this culture across the public service, I have tasked the Public Service Commission to ensure that the values enshrined in Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution become the living standard of every public office,” he said.
“We will reward performers and innovators, and we will sanction nonperformance without apology.”
The Head of State explained that government rewards and incentives will increasingly be linked to productivity, ensuring that public resources generate maximum value for citizens. He said fiscal discipline and performance must go hand in hand to improve service delivery.
“We will harness technology under a one-government data-driven approach. And we will build the governance and financing necessary to sustain delivery,” he said.
Ruto criticised what he described as outdated performance measures in the public service, arguing that they have traditionally focused on attendance and hours worked rather than actual impact.
“We rewarded the officer who stayed late, not the office that delivered. We mistook motion for progress and presence for performance. That era ends here. From today, the public service of Kenya will reward results, not routine, impact, not attendance. We must stop measuring time spent and start measuring value created,” the President said.
According to Ruto, the true measure of a public servant should be the positive impact they have on citizens’ lives rather than the amount of time spent at a workstation.
He said the reforms are being implemented at a critical time as Kenya pursues its agenda amid economic pressures, growing public expectations, technological disruption and intense global competition.
“We meet at a defining moment. We are advancing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda in a challenging period, characterised by fiscal constraints, rising expectations, rapid technological change, and fierce global competition,” he said.
The Head of State also highlighted the need to equip workers with skills that match the demands of a rapidly evolving economy. He said both new entrants and existing employees must have access to training opportunities that enhance their competitiveness.
“Equally important, those already in employment must have opportunities for continuous reskilling and upskilling to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. We must restore merit to the heart of public service,” he said.
The President maintained that a merit-based public service is essential to improving efficiency, accountability and the quality of services delivered to Kenyans.