June 8th – Kenya is preparing to celebrate the 2025 African Public Service Day (APSD) from June 10th to 12th at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The national event, organized by the Ministry of Public Services, Human Capital Development and Special Programs, brings together ministries, departments, agencies and county governments to showcase advanced solutions that redefine how public services are designed and delivered. This year's theme, “Enhancing public institutional agility and resilience to achieve fair governance and quickly address historic service delivery gaps,” places a sharp spotlight on innovation as a driver of inclusiveness, equity and institutional reform.
An important feature of the three-day celebration is the public exhibition of transformative innovations submitted by ministries, departments, agencies and county governments (MDACS). These innovations highlight practical interventions that have positively impacted service delivery, ranging from digital platforms to improving workflows that close the historic access gap. The best innovation will explore the potential presentations at the Continental APSD event, scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in late June.
In line with the communications sent to all public agencies by the Chief Secretary of Public Services, Dr. Jane Jere Inbunya reiterated that participation in APSD 2025 is a national platform for visibility, peer learning and referral of facilities made in enhancing public service delivery. PS highlighted this year's compliance provides an opportunity to consider how agencies are coordinating with government priorities, particularly around inclusion, digital transformation and fairness in service access.
Complementing the exhibition is a national symposium that brings together civil servants, experts and academics for discussions to enhance institutional agility and reform. The forum will spotlight how innovation, civic engagement and public sector resilience can be used to improve transparency, responsiveness and accountability. The sessions include case studies of home country initiatives and lessons learned from local and international reform efforts.
Unlike past years, focusing on specific sectors such as education and agriculture, the 2025 celebrations broaden the lens and examine the institutional framework itself. The goal is to identify mechanisms that allow public institutions to be resilient, adaptable and serve all citizens, especially those who have historically been around.
The early schedule of Kenya's national celebrations allows for detailed assessment, documentation and peer learning ahead of the commemoration of the entire African union. This approach not only ensures that Kenya's most promising innovations are recognized, but also refined for wider applications across the continent.
Since its inception after the 1994 resolution by public and civil servants, APSD has evolved into a critical platform for promoting excellence, innovation and accountability. Kenya's 2025 compliance continues this tradition and strengthens the country's commitment to a future in which public services are both citizen-driven and innovation-driven.
