Kenya is commemorating Africa Public Service Day (APSD) with a two-day national event in Nairobi, bringing together government institutions, county administrations, development partners, academia and the private sector to showcase public sector reforms, strengthen citizen engagement and promote innovation in service delivery.
Observed annually on 23 June across African Union member states, Africa Public Service Day recognises the contribution of public servants to governance, economic development and the delivery of essential public services. The day also provides governments with an opportunity to review progress in public administration, share innovations and reinforce accountability, professionalism and transparency in service delivery.
This year’s celebrations are being held under the theme, “Enhancing Public Sector Institutions and Empowering Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships to Achieve Universal Water Availability and Safe Sanitation by 2063.” The theme aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which seeks to strengthen governance systems and accelerate sustainable development across the continent.
The national celebrations have brought together senior government officials, county representatives, heads of state agencies, development partners, public servants and members of the public, underscoring the collaborative role of institutions in improving service delivery.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku is leading the government’s participation in the celebrations, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to building an efficient, accountable and citizen-centred public service. In his remarks ahead of the event, Ruku called on ministries, departments, agencies and county governments to use Africa Public Service Day as an opportunity to showcase reforms, innovation and best practices that improve service delivery while strengthening partnerships across government institutions.
Ruku also emphasised that public institutions should embrace innovation, professionalism and accountability to ensure government reforms translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens, particularly in the delivery of essential services.
Principal Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development Dr. Jane Kere Imbunya also participated in the celebrations alongside senior officials from national and county governments. She noted that the annual event provides an important platform for government institutions to engage directly with citizens, showcase public sector innovations and strengthen public confidence in government services through transparency and responsiveness.
Throughout the two-day event, ministries, constitutional commissions, state corporations, county governments and independent offices are exhibiting reforms, digital innovations and programmes designed to improve efficiency, accessibility and accountability across the public sector. The exhibitions also provide citizens with an opportunity to access selected government services, obtain information on public programmes and engage directly with officials responsible for service delivery.
Government officials have described the celebrations as an important platform for strengthening collaboration between national and county governments while fostering partnerships with the private sector, civil society organisations and development partners in addressing public service challenges.
A key focus of this year’s discussions is improving access to clean water and safe sanitation, reflecting the continental theme adopted by African Union member states. Delegates are expected to explore practical approaches to strengthening institutions, mobilising resources and expanding partnerships that can accelerate progress towards universal access to water and sanitation by 2063.
The event also places significant emphasis on innovation and digital transformation within government. Public institutions are demonstrating how technology is being used to improve efficiency, reduce bureaucratic processes and make government services more accessible through integrated digital platforms.
In recent years, Kenya has accelerated the digitisation of public services through platforms such as eCitizen and other online government systems, enabling citizens to access a growing number of services remotely. These reforms form part of broader efforts to modernise public administration, reduce turnaround times and improve the overall quality of government service delivery.
Africa Public Service Day traces its origins to 1994, when African ministers responsible for public and civil service established an annual day to recognise the contribution of public servants and promote excellence in public administration. Since then, member states have commemorated the occasion through policy forums, exhibitions, public engagement activities and recognition of institutions and individuals advancing public sector performance.
For Kenya, the annual observance has evolved into more than a ceremonial event. It has become a national platform for government institutions to demonstrate ongoing reforms, share innovative solutions and strengthen engagement with citizens while encouraging accountability and continuous improvement in public service delivery.
The 2026 celebrations come at a time when governments across Africa are under increasing pressure to deliver efficient, transparent and citizen-centred services while responding to emerging challenges such as rapid urbanisation, climate change, technological advancement and growing demand for quality public services.
As the celebrations continue in Nairobi, government leaders say the event will not only showcase progress made in reforming public institutions but also encourage greater collaboration across sectors in building a modern, responsive and results-oriented public service capable of meeting the evolving needs of citizens.
