President William Ruto has announced the development of Kenya’s first-ever State of Openness Report, an initiative aimed at measuring transparency, accountability and access to information across public institutions as the government seeks to strengthen public trust.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, the President said the report will establish a national benchmark for evaluating openness across ministries, state departments, agencies, constitutional commissions and county governments. He described the initiative as a major governance reform that will help improve public access to information while enhancing institutional accountability.
Benchmarking openness across government
Ruto said the report is designed to assess how government institutions share information with the public, respond to accountability standards and promote transparency in service delivery.
According to the President, the initiative will also support efforts to counter misinformation, disinformation and propaganda by ensuring citizens have greater access to verified government information.
“We are working towards entrenching openness across government by ensuring wide access to information in ministries, departments and agencies,” he said.
He noted that increasing transparency is essential in strengthening public confidence in government institutions and promoting responsible governance.
“Our objective is to build and earn public trust while confronting the growing threat of fake news, misinformation, disinformation and propaganda through transparency, accountability and accessibility to accurate information,” Ruto added.
Digital reforms driving accountability
The President highlighted several reforms his administration says have improved transparency in public service delivery.
He said government digital services have expanded significantly over the past four years, growing from about 350 services in 2022 to more than 26,000 today through digital platforms. The expansion, he noted, has made it easier for citizens to access government services while improving efficiency and accountability.
Ruto also pointed to the Unified Government Digital Payment Platform, saying the system has helped reduce revenue leakages, minimise corruption risks and improve the management of public funds.
He further cited the rollout of electronic procurement systems across government institutions, saying the reforms have enhanced transparency in public purchasing, encouraged fair competition and promoted prudent use of taxpayer resources.
Governance reforms
The President said recent legislative changes are also strengthening integrity within public institutions.
Among the reforms he highlighted was legislation governing recruitment to Government-Owned Enterprises, which he said promotes merit-based and competitive appointments while reducing political influence in hiring processes.
He also cited the recently enacted Conflict of Interest Act, saying it reinforces ethical conduct, transparency and accountability among public officials.
According to Ruto, the National Infrastructure Fund has also been structured to enhance institutional independence by limiting executive influence in the appointment of members to its governing council.
Ministries directed to cooperate
To facilitate preparation of the report, the President directed all ministries, departments, agencies, constitutional commissions and county governments to fully cooperate with the Commission on Administrative Justice by providing timely and accurate information.
“I direct every ministry, department, agency, constitutional commission and county government to extend full cooperation to the Commission on Administrative Justice throughout this exercise,” he said.
The report, expected to be launched later this year, will evaluate institutional performance on openness, identify areas requiring improvement and recommend reforms aimed at strengthening transparency across government.
Ruto said the State of Openness Report will be the first initiative of its kind in the country and is expected to shape future governance reforms by promoting accountability, public participation and greater access to government information.
