Kenya Pushes Technology-Led Public Sector Reform

The Kenyan government is positioning technology as a key driver of productivity, efficiency, and service delivery, with John Tanui, Principal Secretary for the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, highlighting the role of digital systems in transforming public services during the National Productivity and Performance Conference 2026.

Speaking at the conference in Nairobi, Tanui said strategic investments in digital infrastructure, digital public services, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data analytics, and interoperable government systems are delivering measurable improvements in public sector performance and citizen experience.

The three-day conference, organised by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) under the theme “Productivity for Fiscal Sustainability and Efficient Service Delivery,” brought together leaders from government, academia, the private sector, and development organizations to explore ways of improving public sector productivity.

Tanui cited key government initiatives, including eCitizen, the Social Health Authority, Maisha Namba, unified human resource systems, and expanded broadband infrastructure, as examples of how technology is improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability across government.

He noted that more than 22,000 government services are now available digitally through the eCitizen platform, enabling millions of Kenyans to access services more conveniently.

The Principal Secretary said the government’s next phase of digital transformation will be guided by the Digital Masterplan 2022-2032 and the National AI Strategy 2025-2030, with priorities including interoperability, data governance, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies.

According to Tanui, the goal is to build a citizen-centric, data-driven public service capable of delivering faster and more effective services across all 47 counties.

The session was followed by a panel discussion featuring Amb. Prof. Bitange Ndemo, Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Nairobi; Dr. Yulita Chebotip Cheruiyot, Deputy Governor of Nandi County; Jessy Maruti, Chief Executive Officer of the ICT Authority; Prof. Meoli Kashorda, Executive Director of the Kenya Education Network (KENET); and Eng. Maureen Mwaniki, Director of Public Affairs and Spokesperson at Huawei Kenya.

Participants agreed that digital transformation has evolved beyond being an ICT issue and is increasingly becoming a national productivity agenda that can help governments improve performance and service delivery.

The conference forms part of SRC’s broader efforts to shift the focus of public sector reforms from wage bill management to productivity, performance measurement, and outcomes-based service delivery.