The government has announced a raft of reforms to strengthen the management of public vehicles, including the introduction of a digital monitoring system aimed at improving accountability, reducing misuse and enhancing service delivery.
The new Government Vehicle Management System (GVMS) will provide real-time oversight of government vehicles by tracking authorised drivers, fuel consumption, mileage and maintenance records through a centralised digital platform.
“At the centre of these reforms is the Government Vehicle Management System (GVMS), a centralised digital platform that will provide real-time oversight of every government vehicle, its authorised driver, fuel consumption, mileage and maintenance history,” Head of Public Service Felix Kosgei said in a statement posted on X on Thursday.
The reforms were announced following a consultative meeting involving representatives from the Executive, Parliament, the Judiciary and security agencies, where officials reviewed existing policies governing government vehicles and explored ways of improving oversight through technology.
According to the government, weak accountability has been driven by the misuse of government registration plates, poor fuel and mileage record-keeping, and failure to properly account for donor-funded vehicles after the completion of projects.
Kosgei said prudent management of public vehicles is essential because the resources used to operate them are funded by taxpayers.
The reforms also provide for the creation of a verified national database of all government vehicles by validating records from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as county governments.
In addition, all government vehicles will be fitted with tracking devices to enable continuous monitoring of their movement and use. The government said the digital platform will incorporate measures to safeguard data integrity, enhance transparency and strengthen cybersecurity.
The government, however, noted that technology alone would not eliminate misuse of public assets, stressing that public officers entrusted with government vehicles must uphold discipline, accountability and responsible use of the fleet.
It added that the success of the reforms will depend on effective enforcement, clear institutional responsibilities and competent personnel. The government is also finalising the National Transport Policy and working with the National Treasury to improve the registration and accountability of donor-funded and project vehicles.
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