‘We have requested the Treasury to allocate resources. The funds will be used to expand Huduma Centres and improve our facilities, some of which are currently rundown. For instance, we need new ICT equipment in our Huduma Centres, as the existing ones are aging. We have already included the funds in the budget’- Amos Gathecha, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Service
The Kenyan government has allocated Ksh 500 million to expand and improve Huduma Centre services nationwide in a concerted effort to enhance public service delivery. Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Service, Amos Gathecha, confirmed that the department has already budgeted and requested the funds from the Treasury.
“We have requested the Treasury to give us the resources. We will use the money to increase Huduma Centres and improve our facilities, some of which are currently rundown. For instance, we need new ICT equipment in our Huduma Centres, which are now aging. We have already placed the money in the budget,” PS Gathecha said during a speech in Mombasa.
The announcement came during the Second Annual Huduma Centre Managers Conference at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) in Mombasa. Gathecha urged Huduma Centre managers to serve the public diligently, emphasizing the critical role of customer service in public administration.
As part of efforts to enhance efficiency, the Kenyan government is partnering with Azerbaijan’s State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations, known as the ASAN Service. According to Gathecha, the delegation was impressed by the high standard of accessibility and efficiency during a recent visit to ASAN’s state-of-the-art facilities.
“ASAN provides over 600 services under one roof, setting a benchmark that significantly exceeds the 157 services available through Kenya’s Huduma Kenya platform,” Gathecha noted.
He acknowledged the challenges public servants face, saying, “Being in public service is not easy. At times, you meet very difficult people. We are telling you to serve the public with a smile, yet there are people who are difficult. What are you going to do with that difficult person?”
Gathecha also encouraged the Huduma Kenya leadership to reward outstanding centre managers and urged Huduma officers to join professional bodies for exposure and career growth.
“You encourage them to work hard, but what do they get in return to motivate them? They are told they are the best and then given a plaque. My suggestion is that the best-performing professionals should attend international conferences organized by professional bodies to gain exposure. But how many of you are members of these professional bodies? They are very important,” he added. The funding and initiatives are expected to modernize Huduma Centre facilities, improve service delivery, and set new benchmarks for public service in Kenya.
