It was pomp and colour in Kisumu as the Government honored top-performing ministries, State departments and agencies in a ceremony showcasing champions of integrity, clean audits and results-focused service delivery in the Public Service.
The 2025 End of Year Public Service Reflection Dinner and Awards, held in Kisumu County, was hosted by the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service (HOPS).
HOPS, Felix Koskei said the awards were “the practical proof” that reforms in integrity, audit discipline and performance are taking root, adding that the recognised institutions are “setting uncompromising standards as the new minimum for public officers.”
Senior Government officials, including Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, heads of State corporations, constitutional commissions and other top administrators, attended the dinner to celebrate institutions that have embraced the reform Agenda.
At the centre of the honours was the Zero Fault Audit campaign, which is pushing ministries, departments and agencies to secure unmodified audit opinions from the Office of the Auditor-General through prudent and accountable use of public resources.
State departments and corporations with clean audit reports were feted for sound financial management and strong internal controls, with organisers framing the outcome as evidence that strict public finance discipline is taking root across Government.
Beyond audit performance, the ceremony also recognised institutions that are changing how Government works from within.
A special category celebrated leadership in driving performance improvement and efficiency, highlighting entities that have invested in staff training, innovation and consistent follow-up on implementation of Government directives.
Regulatory bodies – often the face of Government to businesses and citizens – had a strong showing on the honours list.
Authorities in sectors such as construction, aviation, environment, public health, energy, agriculture and social protection were commended for improving regulatory outcomes, strengthening stakeholder engagement and delivering tangible socio-economic impact through better enforcement and customer-focused services.
Strategic operations and compliance management featured prominently. Institutions and officers who have demonstrated discipline in the use of the Foreign Travel Information Management System were recognised for promoting order, transparency and accountability in official travel, while Principal Secretaries who have shown diligence in implementing Presidential Directives and Cabinet decisions were cited for ensuring that high-level policy decisions are translated into concrete action on the ground.
The ceremony also paid tribute to ministries, State corporations and constitutional commissions that showcased Kenyan innovations at the Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards, where they subjected their reforms to regional competition and helped position Kenya as a leader in public sector transformation on the continent.
Throughout the evening, speakers stressed that the awards were not merely decorative, but a signal of a new culture in the Public Service built on integrity, measurable performance and respect for the taxpayer.
As the Government moves into 2026, the institutions celebrated in Kisumu are expected to act as pacesetters, with “uncompromising standards” becoming the baseline for officers across the Public Service rather than the exception.
By Jacqueline Adyang
