The Kenya School of Government (KSG) marked 100 years of existence on Monday, July 6 with an announcement that it will spearhead Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology uptake in Kenya.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku urged all public servants to take advantage of the institution to tap the opportunities that come with the new technology.

Speaking while presiding over the centenary celebration and graduation ceremony of 432 Assistant County Commissioners (ACCs) awarded with Diploma in Public Administration at the KSG’s Kabete Campus, CS Ruku said all public servants should understand modern technology, as Kenya was being positioned to be a leader in Africa.

More than 1,000 other public officers were awarded with various certifications. The end of the induction course of 530 Deputy County Commissioners (DCCs) that started last week at the institution’s Baringo, Kabete, Matuga and Mombasa campuses coincided with the graduation ceremony.

During the event, the Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Dr Raymond Omollo, said KSG had shaped many public administrators and strengthened the capacity of government institutions over the years.

Dr Omollo said the institution had nurtured the National Governmnet Administration Officers (NGAOs) network, which has more 18,000 officers spearheading coordination, peace, security and service delivery at the grassroots.

“It is fitting that, during this centenary year, we are graduating and inducting officers who will carry forward the next chapter of public administration,” he said.

He said the 432 ACCs join the 802 officers already trained under the Diploma in Public Administration, who recently graduated in a ceremony presided over by President William Ruto.

“This training programme has seen the largest number of NGAO officers ever trained and promoted at one time,” he said, adding that many officers had been promoted and cases of career stagnation addressed. Dr Omollo said his State Department had worked closely with KSG to expand training and unlock promotions in line with the NGAO Scheme of Service following President Ruto’s directive.

He said a total of 394 ACCs and Assistant Secretaries had been promoted to Senior ACCs and Senior Assistant Secretaries. Another 431 Senior Assistant County Commissioners and Senior Assistant Secretaries had been appointed as Deputy County Commissioners, he noted. Dr Omollo said an additional 100 officers had been promoted to the level of Under Secretary.

He said the appointment of 530 DCCs strengthened the sub-county as a focal point for Government-citizen interaction and service delivery. The Principal Secretary said the fact that there were over 400 Sub Counties compared to the 290 Constituencies meant that the sub-county structure gave Government a wider and more direct service delivery footprint across the country.

Dr Omollo said the training was also aimed at enhancing coordination of NGAO services at the local level and is in line with the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda, BETA and security sector institutional reforms.

Apart from Attorney General Mdm. Dorcas Oduor, the Principal Secretary for Public Service Dr Jane Imbunya, Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, and KSG Chairperson Justice (Rtd) Charles Nyachae and Director General Prof. Nura Mohamed were among senior Government officers present.