Africa-Press – Kenya. The government is undertaking reforms to modernise the public sector, focusing on employee wellness, innovation, and youth empowerment, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development, Jane Imbunya, has said.
PS Imbunya highlighted initiatives aimed at making the public service more inclusive, dynamic, and responsive to the needs of Kenyans. She said the government is prioritising mental health, describing it as a previously unmeasurable but critical area.
In response to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department has launched a counselling programme to reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges. The initiative includes a training model that equips “Mental Health Champions” in just six weeks to identify early signs of distress and provide timely interventions for colleagues, a process that traditionally takes three years for professional psychologists.
“This program utilises a breakthrough training model where Mental Health Champions are trained in just six weeks, rather than the three years required for professional psychologists, to provide early detection and timely intervention for colleagues in distress,” she said.
“These holistic reforms are already producing life-changing results. For the first time, civil servants are accessing rehabilitation programmes and successfully reintegrating as highly productive employees and peer mentors.”
PS Imbunya spoke on the 15th episode of the Sema Na Spox – Bonga Na Gava podcast hosted by Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura. She said the reforms are also redefining leadership in the public service.
Traditionally seen as an institution for older employees, the department is now actively integrating young people into decision-making processes.
Roundtable discussions with youth, both within and outside the public service, are shaping policies that are more forward-looking and responsive to the needs of Kenya’s younger generation.
“This strategic shift humanises public service. We are creating a framework where youth engagement is central to our operations, ensuring that leadership is informed, innovative, and inclusive,” she said.
The reforms underscore the government’s commitment to a public service that not only delivers efficiently but also nurtures the well-being of its employees and fosters opportunities for the country’s youth.
The government is also implementing a new Human Resource Information System (HRIS). The integrated platform consolidates all civil servant data into a single system, replacing long-standing manual processes that previously defined payroll and human resource operations. Beyond efficiency gains, the HRIS introduces a rigorous data-cleaning and auditing framework.
