President William Ruto has made true to his promise that the ruling Kenya Kwanza government will be reducing the number of advisors by cutting the number by 50 per cent.
The Head of Public Service Felix Koskei in a formal letter dated July 8, 2024, copied to Attorney General (AG) Justin Muturi and all Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) noted that the CSs will be allowed to have one advisor each.
Koskei in this effect directed the CSs to submit the name of one advisor they wish to retain from the current two by Thursday, July 11 in compliance with President Ruto’s directive.
“In that regard, it is notified that His Excellency the President directed THAT the number of advisors in government be reduced by 50% with immediate effect. By dint of that Presidential Action, the number of advisors assigned to each Cabinet Secretary has been revised from two to one,” read part of the letter.
Additionally, the Head of Public Service highlighted that the number of personal staff attached to the CSs will remain two, as set out in the Public Service Commission (PSC) guidelines.
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The CSs while being directed to indicate the advisor they would wish to retain to support them in discharge of their portfolio mandate were consequently requested to assess the requirements of their respective offices.
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According to Koskei, any advisors beyond the set threshold will be immediately phased out from the Public Service.
“Accordingly, and by way of this circular letter, you are directed to submit to the Public Service Commission the full name of the advisor to be retained, with a copy to this Office, by the close of business on Thursday, 11th July 2024,” added Koskei.
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The rationalization of the advisory function within government comes after President Ruto announced that the number of advisors in the government would be reduced by 50 per cent.
Ruto in a Presidential address on Friday, 5th July 2024 during made the announcement among a raft of austerity measures and other State interventions geared towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Government.
The address outlined policy interventions aimed at ensuring that the sacrifices made by taxpayers are matched by fiscal discipline in the public service.
Austerity Measures
Further, the measures announced also seek to restore faith in public institutions by enhancing accountability, transparency, and the strengthening of good governance within them.
“The number of advisors in government shall be reduced by 50 per cent within the public service with immediate effect,” said President Ruto.
Advisers were among the first casualties of the austerity measures announced by Ruto in an attempt to assuage Kenyans dissatisfied with his leadership.
The Head of State made the announcement following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 which included a Ksh1.1 billion budget for presidential advisers.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Service has formally written to AG Muturi, CSs, Parliament, Commissions, and others for adherence to President Ruto’s order against public officers participating in public fundraisers, commonly known as harambees.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) will be mandated to monitor that all adhere to the order.
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