By President Uhuru Kenyatta [Facebook]
Today I launched two policy documents, the Decentralization of Human Resource Management in the Civil Service Policy and a Framework for Strengthening the Delivery of National Government Functions at the County Level, that are aimed at boosting public service delivery.
The Decentralization of Human Resource Management in the Civil Service policy is aimed at delivery of honest and transparent public services at the County level and ensures open and accountable public service to curb corruption and ensure full implementation of the Constitution. The policy, ensures protection of citizen rights’ and freedoms and extension of basic services to all Kenyans and also secures unity of purpose between and within the two levels of Government to avoid confrontation, tensions and wastage of resources.
No excuse will be tolerated for failure by public servants to deliver services to Kenyans. The days of waiting for ‘orders from above’ for public servants to discharge their duties are long gone. There are no orders from above except delivery of services to Kenyans. You know your assigned duties, perform them professionally.
I have given County Commissioners the authority to represent me at the county level and I will hold them accountable if the levels performance in their respective is wanting. With the launch of the Strengthening of the National Government Co-ordination Function at the county level, the County Commissioners do not have to wait for instructions from Nairobi to discharge their duties.
If you are waiting for Nairobi to tell you what to do, it means that you do not know what you are doing and you should not be holding that office.
Cabinet Secretaries should also take full charge of their ministries and ensure that resources are prudently managed and utilized for the efficient and effective delivery of services to Kenyans. The Public Service Commission has now given them the authority to manage the staff under them. So if programmes in ministries are not implemented, the CS will be held accountable.
With the launch of these two policy documents, Kenya has opened a new chapter of servant-leadership where citizens will witness Government officers delivering services as required of them. To those I have given authority, I expect a lot from you. I have given you my trust and my confidence and I expect you to perform.