The Public Service Commission (PSC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills within the public service through the Regional Centre of Competence (RCOC) programme.
The partnership seeks to accelerate public sector transformation by enhancing digital competencies, promoting innovation and preparing public servants for the future of work amid rapid technological advancement.
Speaking on Tuesday, during the signing ceremony in Nairobi, PSC Chairperson Francis Meja said the Commission was fully committed to modernising the public service and positioning Kenya as a leader in digital transformation and AI adoption.
Meja noted that the public service must adapt to emerging technologies and changing workplace dynamics to remain effective and responsive to citizens’ needs.
“The future of the world is heading in that direction and we must start preparing today to be ready tomorrow,” he stated.
He observed that the partnership with UNDP goes beyond digital transformation and AI training, saying the collaboration would also address broader issues affecting public service delivery, including productivity, efficiency, values and institutional culture.
According to Meja, Kenya’s aspiration to become a first-world economy will depend heavily on the efficiency and effectiveness of the public service.
“If we have to be a first-world country, there are many fundamental issues that we have to address. One of the biggest threats are our values. If we don’t address values in this country, even the best laid plans will fail,” he remarked.
The PSC Chairperson disclosed that the Commission has already developed an elaborate reform framework aligned with its Strategic Plan 2025-2029 to guide transformation efforts within the public service.
He added that the Commission was ready to work closely with development partners to develop a future-ready public service capable of responding to changing global demands.
“We really want to start looking at the future of the service. The world is changing rapidly and we must keep pace,” he emphasized.
Meja further revealed that all PSC commissioners would undergo digital and AI training at the Kenya School of Government later this week as part of efforts to ensure leadership alignment with the transformation agenda.
PSC Chief Executive Officer Paul Famba said the partnership comes at a critical time when the Commission is implementing reforms geared towards public sector modernization, institutional strengthening and continuous learning.
Famba explained that digital transformation was no longer optional for governments but had become central to improving efficiency, accountability and service delivery.
“The Public Service Commission recognizes that digital transformation is now central to improving efficiency, enhancing accountability, strengthening service delivery and preparing public institutions for the future of work,” he said.
He commended UNDP for its continued support towards public sector reforms and noted that the Commission had already designated technical officers to participate in thematic areas of the programme, including curriculum development, partnerships, monitoring and evaluation, communication and government human resource transformation.
Famba stated that PSC had already held consultative meetings with RCOC representatives and inducted its technical teams on programme objectives and implementation priorities.
He said the collaborative model adopted under the programme, which brings together government institutions, development partners, academia and the private sector, would play a key role in institutionalizing digital competencies across the public service.
“As PSC, we believe this initiative provides an important opportunity to institutionalize digital competencies within the public service and prepare our workforce to effectively respond to emerging governance and service delivery demands,” he added.
UNDP Resident Representative in Kenya Jean-Luc Stalon described public service transformation as central to the mandate of UNDP globally, saying governance and efficient public service delivery remain critical pillars of sustainable development.
Stalon noted that UNDP had already invested about one million US dollars in the programme over the past three years, helping to train approximately 30,000 civil servants in digital and AI skills, with a target of reaching 100,000 officers this year.
He, however, called for expansion of the partnership beyond AI and digital skills to include broader public service performance, governance and integrity reforms.
“We can be more ambitious than this,” Stalon said.
He proposed the development of a comprehensive programme that would bring together PSC, UNDP and development partners to support public service excellence and institutional reforms in Kenya.
UNDP official cited Singapore’s globally recognised public service model as an example of how strong governance and an efficient civil service can drive national development.
“If there is one thing UNDP is championing globally, it is support to public service because governance is at the heart of development,” he observed.
Stalon further revealed that President William Ruto had expressed keen interest in strengthening public service performance during his accreditation meeting, signalling high-level government commitment to reforms.
The MoU is expected to strengthen collaboration between PSC and UNDP in building a digitally skilled, innovative and citizen-centered public service capable of meeting evolving governance and service delivery needs in Kenya and the wider region.
By Nicholas Ochieng and Lillian Gichohi
