APSD 2025 Kenya Celebrations Communique

Symposium Communique on the 2025 Africa Public Service Day National Celebrations held from 10^th – 12^th June 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Center, Nairobi.

Theme: “Enhancing the Agility and Resilience of Public Institutions to Achieve Equitable Governance and Rapidly Address Historical Service Delivery Gaps.” 

1. The Public Service plays a vital role in shaping the future, therefore the Service must demonstrate an ability to respond to the needs of everyone, especially those historically underserved.

2. Public Service calls for complete dedication to the people, which will be achieved by providing services easily and simply so as to positively impact lives. This calls for thinking inside the box, outside the box and without the box.

3. Citizens are aware of their right to receive services, and their dignity while being served.

4. Efforts are underway to develop a Public Service Delivery Innovation Policy to institutionalize and reward innovation. 

5. Transformation of the Public Service is an ongoing journey of agility and resilience, which requires partnerships across the Service as well as with citizens. 

6. Redefine Public Service ethos around responsiveness, adaptability, and service excellence. 

7. Invest in digital infrastructure and AI-readiness to ensure relevance in a technology-driven future.

8. Relook policies to achieve institutional re-packaging, which is necessary for a mindset change and building resilience skills.

9. Efforts are underway to develop a Public Participation Bill to guide the process of undertaking public participation. There is need to create a platform for validation and providing feedback after public participation to restore public trust. This can be achieved by embracing technology during public participation exercises.

10. Embracing technology will see a reduction in the cost of acquiring public services, thereby increasing access. 

11. Digitalization in the Public Service requires a citizen-centric approach, designed with the user in mind. This calls for fully consolidated digital interactions with the government in one mobile App.

12. To reap the benefits of digitalization, the Public Service must embrace Whole of Government approach and foster cross-sector collaboration by creating central coordination units and agile innovation labs. 

13. There must be strong emphasis on ethical AI, secure data handling, and responsible digital transformation that respects societal values.

14. A more equitable public service delivery can be achieved by promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration, involving Civil Society, to identify systemic gaps and co-create solutions that are relevant, timely and meet the needs of the citizenry. 

15. There is an urgent need to retool and reskill citizens, especially the youth and marginalized, for inclusive participation in the digital economy.