Deputy Head of the Public Service (DHOPS) Amos Gathecha has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to standardising Intergovernmental Sector Forums (ISFs).
He said the forums will speed up resolution of technical issues between the national and county governments to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to Kenyans.
Gathecha spoke at Harambee House Wednesday when State Department for Devolution Principal Secretary Michael L. Lenasalon paid him a courtesy call.
He noted that ISFs provide a dependable platform where Ministries and County departments jointly plan, align policies, clear bottlenecks and monitor implementation.
As a result, he noted, projects move faster, duplication is avoided and services reach citizens on time.
“We are standardising how these forums are convened, chaired and followed up so that routine matters are resolved early, long before they escalate to higher decision-making bodies,” he said.
The DHOPS said ISFs operationalise the cooperative spirit of devolution by solving problems close to where they arise, observing that they prevent routine issues from reaching apex bodies and ensure consistent standards and timelines across all 47 counties.
He said the approach promotes value for money through harmonised programmes and reduced duplication.
With forthcoming regulations and a practical framework, the government seeks a predictable, accountable and performance-oriented culture. It assigns responsibility and follows through to delivery.
PS Lenasalon confirmed that the Intergovernmental Relations (Sectoral Forum) Regulations, 2025, have undergone public participation.
He added that a practical Intergovernmental Sector Forum Framework—detailing roles, processes and timelines is ready and will be aligned to the regulations once approved.
The PS said the State Department for Devolution will track implementation across National Ministries, while the Council of Governors will monitor execution in counties, ensuring a single, coordinated view of progress.
Lenasalon noted that sectors such as Health and Agriculture have been active historically. However, like others, they experienced gaps in convening this year.
“The new rules and the framework will restore predictability, discipline and momentum across all sectors,” he said.
Gathecha underscored a results-first approach to cut delays, strengthen coordination and enable Kenyans to receive faster, more reliable services.
By Jacqueline Adyang (PCO)
