NAIROBI, Kenya — Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has challenged civil servants to view their work as more than a contractual obligation, urging them to treat public service as a moral and ethical calling.
Speaking on Wednesday during the third Presidential Thanksgiving Service for Public Servants at All Saints Cathedral, Koskei said state employees should see their roles as a “covenant with a higher power,” anchored on integrity, patience, and ethical conduct.
“When you view your job description not just as a contract with the State but as a covenant with a higher power, everything changes,” Koskei told the congregation.
In a direct appeal to the conscience of the public service, Koskei argued that resilience among civil servants depends on how they perceive their mandate, especially during difficult moments.
He acknowledged the operational challenges facing government workers, including limited resources, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and public pressure, but warned against allowing these constraints to breed complacency.
Koskei urged senior officers to reconnect with the commitment and enthusiasm that marked their early years in public service, cautioning that administrative fatigue can erode ethical standards and weaken the State’s relationship with citizens.
“The hardening of hearts is a danger not just to individuals, but to the social contract between government and the people it serves,” he said.
Deputy Head of Public Service Amos Gathecha echoed the remarks, describing senior civil servants as custodians of public resources and guardians of citizens’ trust.
Gathecha said leadership in the public sector carries a responsibility that goes beyond policy implementation, requiring officers to act as stewards of hope for millions of Kenyans who rely on government services.
The thanksgiving service brought together senior government officials and public servants for reflection on leadership, accountability and service as the government continues to push for reforms in public administration.
