Singapore and AKDN strengthen public leadership in Kenya through joint training programme

Nairobi, Kenya, 5 October 2026 – The Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) brought together Kenyan public-sector leaders for a five-day programme focused on strategic leadership, effective governance and building the capabilities needed to deliver meaningful results for citizens.

Organised with Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held from 14 to 18 September 2026 at Aga Khan University in Nairobi, the Singapore-AKDN Strategic Leadership and Public Governance Programme combined Singapore’s experience in public administration with perspectives from Kenyan and AKDN leaders, educators and practitioners. The programme addressed areas ranging from public-sector transformation and economic development to human resource management, strategic foresight, crisis communication and adaptive leadership.

Amin Mawji OBE, AKDN’s Diplomatic Representative in East Africa, situated the programme within Kenya’s development priorities, emphasising the importance of translating strategy, resources and public-sector performance into tangible outcomes for communities.

“The high-level practitioner seminar was conceived to bring together senior public-service leaders to exchange experiences, practical approaches and lessons learned on strengthening leadership and improving government performance,” he said.

Dr Ernest Kan, Non-Resident High Commissioner of Singapore to Kenya, highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing and investment in people in strengthening institutions and supporting long-term development.

"[SCP's] partnerships span across both local and international agencies, including friends from the AKDN. In an era with new and evolving challenges, such partnerships are important for knowledge sharing and capacity building, to better prepare ourselves for tomorrow. By combining Africa's aspirations with Singapore's experience, we can unlock new avenues for growth and create opportunities that benefit both our regions," said Dr Kan.

That emphasis on impact shaped the programme from its first day. Mawji led a session on “Driving Performance to Realise Kenya’s Vision 2030”, which explored value for money, shifting the focus from inputs to impact, and performance management as a leadership discipline. Participants also examined Singapore’s approach to public service and governance, including principles of governance and a whole-of-nation approach.

Across the week, Kenneth Sim and Derek Tan, Associate Faculty members at Singapore’s Civil Service College, led sessions on public-sector transformation, economic development, drawing on Singapore’s experience in areas such as public-sector transformation, futures thinking and economic planning, as well as human resource management. They also guided participants in exploring how these approaches could be adapted to Kenya’s unique institutional and social context.

Mary Kemonto, Director, Human Resource Management and Development at the Diaspora Affairs, Government of Kenya noted, “The mix and blend of perspectives was very good. Derek and Kenneth, our facilitators from Singapore, brought valuable global experience into the Kenyan context. Derek shared practical experiences that really made sense and gave us ideas we can take back and apply within our own civil service. What also stood out about Kenneth was the way he brought in Singapore’s experience, including the four stages of its development, alongside his own experience working in the Singapore civil service. That combination was very valuable.”

The programme also drew on expertise from Kenya and the Aga Khan University. Communications expert Gina Din-Kariuki and Dr Caroline Kiaire of AKU’s Graduate School of Media and Communications led sessions on communicating in a crisis, while Dr Julius Kipng’etich, Group CEO of Jubilee Holdings, explored the role of leaders as storytellers.

Later sessions deepened the focus on the human dimensions of leadership. Dr Tazmin Alibhai addressed personal leadership, while Professor Nancy Booker, Dean of AKU’s Graduate School of Media and Communications, examined adaptive leadership. Dr Mercy Karanja, Head of the Division of Mental Health at Kenya's Ministry of Health, East Africa led a session on mental wellbeing in leadership, and Dr Farida Karoney, former Cabinet Secretary for Lands and Physical Planning, led a dialogue on leadership and effective change.

A central thread throughout the programme was how leaders could navigate complexity while remaining focused on public purpose. Sessions on scenario planning and strategic foresight considered how governments could prepare for uncertainty, while discussions on competency-based performance, fair and meritocratic civil-service practices, and organisational change examined the systems needed to translate leadership intent into institutional performance.

The programme concluded on 18 September with reflections, action planning, participant share-backs, programme evaluations and a certificate presentation, providing participants with an opportunity to identify how lessons from the week could be translated into practice within their organisations.

In his closing remarks, Ambassador Patrick S. Wamoto, EBS, Acting Director-General of Kenya’s Foreign Service Academy, commended the partnership between AKDN and the Singapore Cooperation Programme for creating a valuable platform for learning and exchange. He highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional capacity to support transformation across the public service and welcomed the prospect of a second cohort to build on the programme’s momentum and further strengthen leadership across Kenya’s public institutions.

The programme in Nairobi reflected a shared commitment by Singapore Cooperation Programme and AKDN to invest in people, institutions and partnerships. By bringing together Singapore’s public-sector experience, Kenyan expertise and AKDN’s longstanding presence in East Africa, it created a platform not simply for sharing knowledge, but for dialogue, adaptation and practical action – with stronger public leadership and improved outcomes for communities at its centre.