‘Gen Z-ification’ Plan Unveiled: CS Ruku Reveals 30-Year Strategy to Replace Ageing Public Servants With Younger Workforce
The Government has unveiled an ambitious long-term plan aimed at transforming Kenya’s public service by gradually replacing an ageing workforce with younger employees, in what Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has described as the “Gen Z-ification” of government institutions.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, July 23, Ruku announced that the Ministry of Public Service is developing a Public Sector Transformation Policy that will shape recruitment, succession planning and workforce renewal over the next 20 to 30 years.
The Cabinet Secretary stressed that the reforms would not be immediate but would instead be guided by evidence, workforce data and long-term planning to ensure a smooth transition without disrupting government operations.
According to Ruku, the ministry is undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the current public service to identify staffing shortages, skills gaps and the age profile of employees before implementing the reforms.
“The Ministry of Public Service is committed to public sector transformation reforms. These reforms are gradual and well thought out,” Ruku said.
“We are developing a Public Sector Transformation Policy guided by data on the existing gaps in public service, the skills available and the age profile of the workforce.”
The CS explained that Kenya’s youthful demographic should be reflected in government institutions, saying the new framework seeks to increase opportunities for young people to join the civil service over the coming decades.
“Because we are a young nation, we want to ensure the Gen Z-ification of the public service. The policy will identify the gaps we have in public service and the appropriate measures the government will undertake over a period of not less than 20 to 30 years,” he stated.
Ruku emphasised that the strategy is designed as a gradual succession plan rather than a mass replacement exercise, noting that the government is focused on ensuring institutional continuity while preparing the next generation of public servants.
The proposed policy is expected to provide a roadmap for recruitment, succession planning, skills development and workforce modernisation across ministries, departments and state agencies.
If implemented, the reforms could significantly reshape the face of Kenya’s public service over the next three decades by increasing the participation of younger professionals while addressing skills shortages and preparing institutions for future governance challenges.
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