Innovation takes center stage as Kenya prepares for Africa Public Service Day 2025

Kenya is set to mark Africa Public Service Day (APSD) 2025 with a three-day celebration at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, from June 10 to 12 placing innovation firmly at the centre of this year’s activities.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, the national event will convene ministries, departments, agencies, and county governments to exhibit progressive solutions transforming the delivery of public services across the country.

This year’s theme, “Enhancing the Agility and Resilience of Public Institutions to Achieve Equitable Governance and Rapidly Address Historical Service Delivery Gaps,” underlines innovation as a key lever for equity, inclusion, and institutional renewal.

A standout feature of the celebration will be a national showcase of transformative innovations from Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and County Governments (MDACs).

These innovations represent real-world shifts in public service delivery ranging from new digital tools to redesigned service models that are closing long-standing gaps in access.

The most impactful entries will be considered for presentation at the continental APSD event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, later in June.

In a circular issued to public institutions, the Principal Secretary for Public Service, Dr. Jane Kere Imbunya, reaffirmed the Ministry’s call for full participation.

She noted that APSD 2025 is not just a celebration but a national platform for institutions to showcase progress, engage in peer learning, and align their work with government priorities, especially on digital transformation, inclusive access, and equity in public service.

In addition to the exhibition, a national symposium will be held, drawing together public servants, thought leaders, and academia for deep dives into institutional reform and agility.

The forum will spotlight how innovation, citizen engagement, and resilience can drive greater accountability, responsiveness, and transparency within public institutions. Discussions will include case studies from Kenya and abroad, offering practical lessons and models that can be adopted locally.

While previous APSD events have often spotlighted individual sectors such as education or agriculture, the 2025 celebration shifts focus to the institutional backbone of government itself, probing what makes public institutions responsive, durable, and capable of delivering for all, particularly marginalised communities.

Kenya’s early commemoration schedule is strategic, it allows time for comprehensive evaluation, peer learning, and refining of innovations ahead of the continental celebration.

This ensures that Kenya’s most promising public sector innovations are well-documented, thoroughly vetted, and positioned for wider continental replication.

First declared in 1994 by African Ministers responsible for Public and Civil Service, APSD has become a vital vehicle for driving excellence, accountability, and innovation across the continent.

Kenya’s 2025 observance continues this legacy, affirming its dedication to building a public service that is future-ready, citizen-centred, and innovation-led.