A County Public Service Board is the body responsible for managing the human resources of a county government. Every one of Kenya's 47 counties has a Board, established under section 57 of the County Governments Act, 2012 as a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, capable of suing and being sued in its corporate name.
The Board exercises, on behalf of the county government, the powers that Article 235 of the Constitution assigns to counties: to establish and abolish offices in the county public service; to appoint persons to hold or act in those offices and to confirm appointments; and to exercise disciplinary control over, and remove, persons holding or acting in those offices. In doing so, the Board must work within the framework of uniform norms and standards prescribed by an Act of Parliament.
The county public service includes officers employed by the county executive, county departments and county agencies. The county assembly's service is managed separately by the County Assembly Service Board. Teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission are excluded from the county public service by Article 235(2).
Why County Public Service Boards matter to citizens
- Fair access to jobs: Boards advertise vacancies openly and recruit on merit, giving every qualified Kenyan an equal opportunity.
- Better services: the right people in the right positions deliver better health, agriculture, education and infrastructure services.
- Integrity: Boards enforce discipline and ethical conduct in the county public service.
- Inclusion: Boards are legally required to ensure the county public service reflects the diversity of Kenya, including gender, ethnicity, disability and age.
- Accountability: Boards report annually to county assemblies on their work and on compliance with the values and principles of public service.
Find any Board in the directory of all 47 County Public Service Boards.