Kenya Plans Major Expansion of Huduma Centres to Bridge Service Gaps
Thika, 19 April 2026
Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku announced ambitious plans to expand Kenya’s Huduma Centre network, with 13 centres ready for operation and over 20 under construction. The government aims to introduce a revolutionary ‘Universal Agent’ model allowing citizens to access multiple services at one location. Makueni County’s innovative Huduma Mashinani Programme successfully served 76,399 residents across 30 wards between December 2025 and March 2026, demonstrating the potential for mobile service delivery to reach underserved rural communities and bridge persistent regional disparities in government service access.
Comprehensive Service Expansion Strategy Unveiled
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku detailed the government’s comprehensive expansion plans during the close of the 3rd Annual Huduma Centre Managers Conference in Mombasa on 17 April 2026 [1]. The ambitious rollout includes 13 Huduma Centres ready to begin operations immediately, whilst more than 20 additional centres are currently under construction through National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) support [1]. An additional nine centres are being developed specifically under the Huduma Kenya programme, representing a significant scaling of the national service delivery infrastructure [1].
Universal Agent Model to Transform Service Delivery
The government plans to introduce a revolutionary ‘Universal Agent’ model designed to allow citizens to access multiple services at a single point, addressing the persistent gaps in service availability across different regions [1]. This initiative forms part of the broader Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda associated with President William Samoei Ruto [1]. The Cabinet Secretary emphasised that Huduma Kenya has evolved significantly since its inception, but stressed the need to maintain high standards of efficiency, fairness and professionalism in service delivery [1]. The ministry is actively working with other government agencies to expand the range of services available at Huduma Centres, including plans to facilitate the issuance of documents such as passports [1].
Legislative Framework and Service Standards Reform
The government is preparing the Huduma Kenya Bill, which is expected to undergo public participation before being tabled in Parliament [1]. The proposed legislation aims to streamline operations and grant the agency greater autonomy in delivering services [1]. Ruku has directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to comply with service charters and adopt process improvements to reduce turnaround times [1]. New customer service standards will be introduced, requiring certification across public institutions as part of broader efforts to improve consistency in service delivery nationwide [1].
Successful Rural Outreach Demonstrates Mobile Service Potential
Makueni County’s innovative Huduma Mashinani Programme has emerged as a model for national replication, successfully addressing rural access challenges [2]. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. highlighted that Makueni has only one Huduma Centre located in Wote, creating significant access barriers for rural residents [2]. Between December 2025 and March 2026, the mobile initiative served 76,399 residents across all 30 wards, offering 24 integrated government services directly to communities [2]. Huduma Kenya CEO CPA Ben Kai Chelumo lauded the programme as exemplary for potential nationwide implementation [2]. Governor Anne Waiguru of Kirinyaga noted the practical impact of Huduma Centres, particularly in facilitating voter registration, emphasising that ‘real impact doesn’t come from one big move, it comes from consistent review and action’ [3].