Moses Kuria Insists Civil Servants Must Be Hired On Contract: "Even President Is On Contract"

• Public Service CS Moses Kuria asked MPs to endorse his proposal to have all civil servants hired on contractual terms
• He asserted that all good citizens should be more than willing to work on contracts, just like the president and himself
• On April 23, Kuria stated that making all civil servants work on a contract basis would prevent future strikes from taking place

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has reiterated his stance on advocating for the recruitment of civil servants on contractual terms.

He defended his proposal by pointing out that his position as a Cabinet Secretary and that of President William Ruto are both contractual in nature.

Speaking before a parliamentary committee, he questioned why any well-meaning citizen should dread being on contract.

" I will be presenting a task force to look at this issue and to carry out public participation. We are not a dictatorial country. I am going to the cabinet to present the task force for approval," he said.

Kuria additionally urged the committee to endorse his proposal to transition all civil servants to contractual arrangements.

Why does Moses Kuria want all jobs to be temporary?

Earlier, on Tuesday, April 23, the CS announced plans to take a proposal to the Cabinet, requiring a change in all public workers' terms of service from permanent to temporal.

The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that the proposal's objective is to enhance productivity in government service delivery.

Kuria observed that if the proposal receives approval, it will transition all civil servants from permanent and pensionable status to contract and pensionable status.

Speaking in Nairobi, Kuria cited the recommendations of the wage bill conference 2024, which sought to reduce the national wage bill from 47% to 35%.

What triggered Moses Kuria's proposal?

Kuria's pronouncement came amid the countrywide doctors' strike that began on Wednesday, March 13.

Moses Kuria stated that the proposal sought to prevent any potential future industrial actions among civil servants.

On Wednesday, May 8 doctors and officials from the national and county governments realised a deal to end the medics' strike.

The doctors' strike went on for 56 days.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke