Kenya’s head of public service Felix Koskei on Thursday, September 21, announced government plans to prevent public workers from exchanging their leave days for money.

Speaking during an event at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, Koskei said that employees should consider utilizing all their leave days.

“There is no room for accumulation of the leave days for money, so start going on leave today,” said Koskei.

He added that a public servant can only carry forward a maximum of 15 leave days to the next financial year.

According to him, carrying forward leave days will help the government save money that was being paid to workers who didn’t utilize their annual leave.

Koskei explained that the decision was reached after it emerged that most workers were intentionally targeting to get money instead of taking their leave days.

Koskei emphasized the need for employees to utilize their leave days, adding that even President William Ruto, his deputy, and cabinet secretaries go on leave.

At the same time, he noted that some workers don’t take leave days, to give chance for other staff to serve in their positions due to their corrupt deals.

“let us utilize leave days as an indirect way of mentoring other employees by giving them a chance to work in your capacity,” he noted.

He also directed principal secretaries to audit records of employees within their dockets and come up with a plan that ensures each one of them goes on leave.

The Employment Act of 2007 as enshrined in the constitution of Kenya allows every worker to have 21 leave days in a year.