In Kenya, Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) are government officials appointed by the President to assist Cabinet Secretaries in the performance of their duties.
The positions were introduced in 2018 as part of the government’s efforts to improve service delivery and efficiency in the public sector.
As of my knowledge cutoff of 2021, there were 24 CAS in Kenya, each attached to a specific Cabinet Secretary. The CAS positions were distributed across various ministries as follows:
- Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Defense – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Devolution and ASAL – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Education – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Energy – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Environment and Forestry – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Health – 2 CAS
- Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government – 2 CAS
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection – 2 CAS
It’s important to note that the number and distribution of CAS positions may change over time, as the government’s priorities and needs evolve.
The salary of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) in Kenya was Ksh. 924,000 per annum, which is equivalent to approximately $8,500 USD per year.
However, it’s important to note that this information may not be up-to-date and may be subject to change over time based on government policies and regulations.
Additionally, government officials in Kenya are often entitled to various allowances and benefits, which could increase their overall compensation package beyond their basic salary.
which job group is Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS)
The job group for Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) in Kenya was Job Group “S”, which is the same job group as Principal Secretaries (PS). Job group “S” is a relatively high job group in the civil service and is just below job group “T” which is the highest job group in the civil service.
This means that CAS are among the highly ranked public officials in the civil service and are entitled to significant benefits and allowances, in addition to their basic salary.
What is the difference between Chief Administrative Secretaries and principle Secretaries
The main difference between Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) and Principal Secretaries (PS) in Kenya is their roles and responsibilities.
CAS are government officials appointed by the President to assist Cabinet Secretaries in the performance of their duties.
They act as assistants to the Cabinet Secretaries and are responsible for specific areas or sectors within the ministries they are attached to.
Their main role is to support the Cabinet Secretary in the management and coordination of government programs and policies. CAS do not have executive authority, and their decisions and actions are subject to the approval and supervision of the Cabinet Secretary.
On the other hand, Principal Secretaries (PS) are senior government officials who head specific departments within a ministry. They are appointed by the President on the advice of the Cabinet Secretary, and they are responsible for the day-to-day management of their respective departments.
They have executive authority and are responsible for implementing government policies and programs in their respective departments.
The PS reports directly to the Cabinet Secretary and is responsible for providing technical advice and support to the Cabinet Secretary on matters related to their department.
In summary, CAS are appointed to assist Cabinet Secretaries, while PS are appointed to head specific departments within a ministry. While both positions are high-ranking in the civil service, their roles and responsibilities differ significantly.
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