Parades of Reforms and the Quest for Social Equity

Abstract

This paper examines the place of social equity as a public-sector value in past public-sector reforms in Kenya from the mid-1980s to today. It examines how public-sector reforms exacerbate ethnic/tribal and gender inequalities. It also explores the institutional structures put in place by the government to mitigate these inequalities. The paper finds that past reforms have promoted efficiency and economy but not social equity. The paper also finds that in place of a weak central government and a partisan judiciary, the media and nongovernmental actors have played a big role in setting the agenda for action to address ethnic/regional and gender inequalities. It recommends investment in public service education to ingrain public-sector values.