Explainer: Roles, responsibilities of Chief Administrative Secretaries
If approved, the 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) nominated by President William Ruto on Thursday will complete the formation of the largest Executive in recent Kenyan history.
The Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) post was established in order to help Cabinet Secretaries in accordance with Article 132(4)(a) of the Constitution as read with Section 30 of the Public Service Commission Act, 2017.
The CASs are expected to perform various duties and responsibilities that will enhance service delivery and policy implementation.
One of the key duties of the CASs is to respond to issues and questions related to their portfolio assigned to their office. This means that they will need to have a thorough understanding of their ministry’s area of responsibility, and be able to provide information and answers to queries from both the public and other stakeholders.
Another key responsibility of the CASs is to provide liaison with the National Assembly and Senate. This involves ensuring that communication channels are open between the ministry and these important government bodies, and that any issues or concerns are addressed in a timely manner.
The CASs are also responsible for providing liaison with county governments on matters of concurrent mandate. This means that they will need to work closely with local authorities to ensure that government policies are implemented effectively at the grassroots level.
The CASs are also responsible for providing inter-ministerial/sectoral coordination. This involves working closely with other government ministries and agencies to ensure that policies and programs are aligned and that there is no duplication of efforts.
The CASs will also be expected to represent the Cabinet Secretary at any meeting as instructed by them. This means that they will need to be able to effectively communicate the views and positions of the ministry at various forums and events.
Finally, the CASs will be required to execute any other duties and responsibilities specifically assigned to them by the Cabinet Secretary in furtherance of the interests of the ministry. This means that they will need to be flexible and adaptable, and be able.
The nomination of the 50 CASs has elicited a range of reactions, with some hailing it as a move that will improve efficiency and inclusivity and others condemning it as a waste of public funds.