By Mumo Judah, June 22, 2026
The Ministry of Defence, under Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, has been ranked as Kenya’s best-performing government institution following the release of the latest national evaluation report presented during the National Productivity and Performance Conference held at the Kenya School of Government.
The assessment, which evaluated Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the public sector, placed the Defence Ministry at the top of the rankings based on its ability to consistently meet and exceed performance contracting targets set by the government.
The report highlighted strong institutional discipline, improved efficiency in service delivery, and enhanced accountability mechanisms within the ministry as key factors behind its outstanding performance. The evaluation framework measures institutions against a range of indicators including financial management, project implementation, innovation, timeliness in service delivery, and compliance with annual performance targets.
During the high-level conference, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi used the platform to reinforce the government’s broader push for public service reform, warning against complacency within state institutions and urging leaders to embrace a culture of excellence.
Addressing executive delegates and Cabinet Secretaries, Mudavadi revisited a guiding principle that he said has frequently been emphasized within top government leadership circles as a benchmark for reform and accountability.
“I just want to remind you of one statement that you normally make: ‘Let us not make peace with mediocrity.’ This is one persistent statement you have been making repeatedly. Now, that is a loaded statement,” Mudavadi said.
His remarks were interpreted as a strong call for ministries and agencies to intensify performance improvements as the government moves to implement deeper public sector wage restructuring and promotion reforms aimed at enhancing productivity and rewarding merit.
The Defence Ministry’s top ranking was therefore seen as a benchmark example of what the government expects from all state institutions under the performance contracting framework, which was designed to instill discipline, improve accountability, and ensure measurable service delivery outcomes.
Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya attributed the ministry’s success to strict adherence to operational targets, disciplined leadership structures, and the commitment of personnel within the Ministry of Defence and the Kenya Defence Forces.
Officials at the conference noted that the performance evaluation process plays a central role in shaping public sector reforms, allowing government to identify gaps, reward excellence, and enforce corrective measures where institutions fall short of expected standards.
The Kenya School of Government-hosted conference brought together senior government officials, policymakers, and institutional leaders to review progress in public service transformation and discuss strategies aimed at strengthening efficiency across all MDAs.
The latest rankings are expected to increase pressure on underperforming institutions as the government intensifies its push for a more accountable, results-driven public service anchored on measurable outcomes and strict adherence to performance agreements.
