Senior government officers on Wednesday evening attended the third Presidential Thanksgiving Service for Public Servants at the All Saints Cathedral, during which the importance of integrity, accountability, and ethical conduct in public service was emphasised.
Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, led the senior team of staff at the thanksgiving accompanied by Deputy Head of Public Service, Mr Amos Gathecha, to the service that was presided over by the Provost, Rev. Canon Evans Omollo.
Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), Rebecca Miano (Tourism and Wildlife), and Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development) also took part in the thanksgiving.
Principal Secretaries who turned up for the service included Mr. Stephen Isaboke (Broadcasting and Telecommunications) and Eng. John Tanui (ICT and Digital Economy), alongside other senior government officials.
Addressing the congregation, Koskei called for integrity and transparency in government service delivery, urging public servants to uphold honesty while serving the nation.
He acknowledged the challenges in public service, particularly when resources are scarce and systems are under strain, but reminded officers to always focus on their responsibility.
“You are stewards of the people’s resources. You are guardians of the people’s hope. That is a sacred responsibility and you do not carry it alone. That said, we must also be honest. Public service can be exhausting. When resources are constrained and systems move slowly, cynicism can easily take root. I ask you today: do not lose your ‘why’. Do not allow bureaucracy to harden your heart. Remember the passion you carried on your very first day of service.”
He further reiterated the singular calling of public service, noting that “Public service is a sacred calling, measured not by profit, but by peace in our streets, fairness in our laws, and stability in our nation. Your work may be quiet, but its impact speaks powerfully in the lives of the citizens we serve.”
Rev. Canon Evans Omollo highlighted the central role of trust in leadership, saying:
“Trust is the foundation of leadership—without it, public confidence collapses and government itself begins to crumble.”
Echoing the call for ethical leadership, Mr. Arthur A. Osiya, Principal Administrative Secretary at the Public Service Commission, said the thanksgiving service was a moment for public officers to recommit to their duties.
“This gathering calls upon all public servants to enter the New Year with renewed resolve, to lead ethically, act decisively in the public interest, and strengthen confidence in public institutions through their daily choices.
We are deeply grateful for this important innovation initiated under your leadership, which gives us an opportunity to give thanks to God, rededicate ourselves to our calling, and reflect on our country, mindful of the trust placed in us by the citizens we are privileged to serve.”
The theme of the thanksgiving was “Stewards of Trust: Giving Thanks Through Lives of Service with Integrity,” the service provided an opportunity for reflection on the responsibilities entrusted to public servants.
Government leaders present reaffirmed their commitment to principled leadership, ethical conduct, and dedicated service in the delivery and stewardship of government programmes.
By Violet Otindo
