The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has successfully concluded a nationwide public participation exercise on the proposed Defence Civilian Staff Policy (DCSP), marking a significant milestone in its efforts to streamline human resource management. The final leg of the consultations wrapped up with a series of town hall meetings at the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital in Lang’ata, Nairobi.
The four-day Nairobi engagement brought together military and civilian personnel from Lang’ata, Embakasi, Kahawa Garrisons, and the National Defence College. It offered participants a unique platform to directly influence a policy that is expected to reshape civilian employment within the ministry.
The consultative process, which has been ongoing for nearly two months, covered regions across the country including the Coast, Western, and Eastern regions. It was spearheaded by Secretary for Administration, Isaac Masinde, who chaired the technical committee overseeing the policy’s development. The team also included key figures such as Brigadier F. Lobally, Lt Col M. Mutua, and Public Service Commission’s Wangeci Gichangi.
According to Masinde, the proposed DCSP is aimed at addressing persistent gaps in human capital management, particularly around career progression, staff establishment, remuneration, and general welfare. He noted that the draft blueprint was informed by the need for an integrated but clearly defined relationship between civilian and military roles within the ministry.
“This policy is not just about structure—it’s about equity, recognition, and creating a system where every civilian staff member understands their growth trajectory,” said Masinde.
Participants had the chance to scrutinize the draft and offer detailed feedback, which the ministry has pledged to incorporate before the policy’s formal adoption. The inclusive nature of the consultations represents a cultural shift in how the MOD manages its workforce moving from a top-down approach to one rooted in engagement and responsiveness.
With the consultations now complete, the MOD is expected to refine the policy and set a new benchmark for human resource practices within government ministries, particularly those operating in sensitive and structured environments like defence.
