Public servants in Kenya who fail to learn how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their daily work will soon become irrelevant. This warning was given by Prof Nura Mohamed, Director General of the Kenya School of Government (KSG), during an address to 116 civil servants who had completed their six-month training on various management levels. Mohamed emphasized that AI has become a reality in society and those who refuse to embrace it will be automatically replaced.
Mohamed highlighted that the government has introduced a regional centre of competence for digital skilling and AI for the public service to help build the capacity of public service on the utilization of AI. The centre aims to support public servants in their daily work by providing them with the necessary skills to effectively use AI. He also explained that the government has introduced specialization in the government system, including AI for human resource management, finance, procurement, administration, chief executives, and ICT.
The KSG Director General stressed that all jobs in the public service are under threat due to the growing use of AI in every sector of the government. He urged public servants to change and adapt to the new technology or risk becoming irrelevant. Mohamed also emphasized the importance of strategic leadership in navigating uncertainty, making difficult choices, and aligning people and resources around priorities.
Mohamed asked managers in the civil service to be strategic leaders who must be able to navigate uncertainty, make difficult choices, align the people and resources around priorities, and build institutions that will perform beyond their tenure in office. He noted that leaders must determine whether a process is solving the right problem, exercise judgment, and understand how technology is reshaping the public service.
The Director General emphasized that digital transformation, data, and artificial intelligence are changing how institutions operate, how decisions are informed, and how citizens interact with the government. He noted that technology does not, by itself, transform institutions, but leaders do. Mohamed also stressed that leaders must make strategic judgments grounded in ethics and have a clear understanding of the public value they are expected to create.
Mohamed highlighted that leadership is measured by what happens after a leader has left the scene. He added that a public servant requires more than technical competence and must make strategic judgments grounded in ethics. The Director General emphasized the need for leaders with strategic judgment, ethical grounding, systems thinking, adaptability, and a clear understanding of the public value they are expected to create.
The warning by Mohamed comes as the government continues to implement digital transformation initiatives aimed at improving services in various sectors. The Kenya School of Government is playing a key role in this initiative by providing training and capacity-building programs for public servants. The goal is to equip them with the necessary skills to effectively use AI and other digital technologies in their work.
Key points
- Public servants who do not learn to use AI will become irrelevant.
- The government has introduced a regional centre of competence for digital skilling and AI for the public service.
- Leaders must make strategic judgments grounded in ethics to effectively use AI and other digital technologies.
