NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto’s administration has come under fire for its growing reliance on task forces to handle various government crises, with critics accusing the government of inefficiency and wastefulness.
Despite their frequent formation, many task forces have been criticized for their lack of tangible results, with some reports left collecting dust, and others deemed unconstitutional by courts or experts.
The latest task force to attract attention is the one formed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, which has been tasked with investigating illegal organ transplants at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret.
This group, which consists of 12 members and three joint secretaries, was established to probe organ transplant claims amid a growing concern over human trafficking and illegal medical practices.
However, critics argue that such tasks should be managed by law enforcement agencies such as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Auditor General, saving taxpayers millions of shillings.
The frequent formation of task forces to address government challenges has been a hallmark of Ruto’s administration, but many, including task forces on pending bills and gender-based violence, have failed to deliver results.
Zerot Consultants Executive Director Bernard Muchere strongly criticized the use of task forces, calling them a waste of public funds and a distraction from real solutions.
“In most instances, task forces are unwarranted,” Muchere said. “Before any government tender is issued, committees are already established to ensure funds are available and accessible. The work of task forces is often redundant, especially when the functions fall under existing institutions.”
Muchere added that task forces are being used to legitimize illegal bills, delaying service delivery and complicating governance instead of streamlining it.
“The task force method is a way to delay action and keep public funds circulating without tangible outcomes,” he noted.
Duale’s Task Forces: A Question of Necessity
In the three weeks since Aden Duale took office as Health CS, he has already established two major task forces.
The first, investigating non-compliant practices in health facilities related to organ transplants, will last for three months.
Duale justifies the need for the committee by pointing out its task to uncover systemic weaknesses, professional misconduct, and potential criminal activities.
However, many argue that the DCI and other regulatory bodies are already equipped to handle such investigations.
“I believe the DCI and relevant investigative agencies should take the lead on this,” said Muchere, emphasizing that millions in taxpayer money could be saved if existing agencies handled the issue without creating parallel structures.
Duale’s second task force is focused on verifying pending medical claims submitted to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) before its replacement by the Social Health Authority (SHA), a process that could have been handled by the SHA itself or the Office of the Auditor General.
Wider Governmental Concerns: A Deluge of Task Forces
Ruto’s administration has also faced scrutiny over other task forces, including those focused on police welfare and gender-based violence.
The High Court recently ruled that Ruto’s creation of a police welfare task force, headed by former Chief Justice David Maraga, was unconstitutional.
The court found that Ruto had exceeded his authority in establishing the task force without proper legislative backing.
In addition, the Treasury’s ongoing task force, which has been tasked with reviewing pending bills in public service, was extended by CS John Mbadi in February 2025, even though the task force had already cleared Sh206 billion worth of pending bills.
Critics argue that such task forces often fail to make significant progress and contribute to bureaucratic delays in government processes.
The Financial Cost of Task Forces
The formation of task forces often comes at a significant cost. These costs include allowances for members, secretariat expenses, and travel—factors that contribute to the overall burden on taxpayers.
The Chairperson of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), Lyn Mengich, has raised concerns about the compensation practices for task force members.
According to Mengich, task force members who also serve as public officers should not receive double compensation for the same period, particularly if they are also already receiving a salary for other public duties.
In her August 2023 communication, Mengich also noted that public officers engaged in task forces should receive task force allowances only for a maximum of 15 days per month, with the allowance ceasing after one month of full-time service on a task force.
The Call for Efficiency and Accountability
The growing reliance on task forces has raised doubts about the efficiency and accountability of Kenya’s public service sector.
Muchere and other analysts stress that the government needs to prioritize institutional reforms to tackle challenges effectively.
Rather than creating new task forces, public service should focus on strengthening existing institutions like the Auditor General’s office, the DCI, and relevant ministries to handle issues without resorting to expensive temporary bodies.
In response to criticism, Health CS Aden Duale has defended his decisions, arguing that task forces are necessary to handle complex issues that require specialized attention.
However, critics remain unconvinced, pointing to a pattern of inefficiency and a lack of accountability for past task forces whose reports have either been ignored or rendered unconstitutional.
