PERFORMANCE CONTRACT

Public servants must at all times uphold accountability and remain faithful to Kenyan taxpayers, President Mwai Kibaki has said.

President Kibaki made the remarks Monday when he officially released performance contracts evaluation results at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

The Head of State said that performance contracting must be applied uniformly across the entire public sector without exception.

He said, "I wish to clearly indicate that implementation of performance contracts is not a selective requirement. This goes for all public institutions without exception. We must therefore place punitive punishment for those who fail to implement the program."

Affirming that the performance contracting has been commendably successful, the Head of State said that it must extend to other arms of the government.

President Kibaki noted that the full benefits of performance management will be fully harnessed if the practice was extended to all arms of the government.

The President acknowledged that performance of the three arms was intertwined especially in service to Kenyans adding that the demand for accountability must never be interpreted as interfering with the other.

In this regard the President called for quick inclusion of the legislature and the judiciary on performance contract so that Kenyans could enjoy the full benefits of measured performance from the three arms of the government.

"I also wish to note that, while the process of performance contracting has progressed remarkably well it has been limited to the executive arm of Government. Needless to say, the performance and actions of any of the three arms of Government has a direct bearing on the other arms. The ultimate benefits of performance management cannot be fully harnessed until the requirement for accountability for results is extended to all the three arms of Government," said the President.

The President noted that the practice had not only catalyzed rapid economic recovery but had also earned the country recognition at the international arena.

"In this regard, the defining moment for performance contracts was the recognition by the United Nations in 2007. In that year our country won the United Nations Public Service Award, in the first category of transparency, accountability and accessibility," said the Head of State.

He confirmed that the guiding principle in the introduction of the performance contracts was to restore order in the administration of public affairs. The process was also intended to create a sense of accountability, added the President.

President Kibaki said, "Since the implementation of performance contracting, we have witnessed its growth from a rudimentary framework to a version that is now being replicated in other countries."

The Head of State noted that the process of performance contracting was among the vital programs being implemented by the government to improve the quality of lives among Kenyans.

The President stated that a more efficient public service had led to the immense infrastructure development, exceptional expansion of the education and health sectors as well increased food production by local farmers.

The Head of State noted that improved revenue collection had also enabled the country to finance the revival of important industries in various sectors of the economy.

He noted, "I am also glad to note that the savings which are the result of efficiencies in performance have in turn been applied in critical downstream programs such as the Kazi kwa Vijana. In addition, we have boosted the women, youth and disability funds as well as the Constituency Development Fund."

During the occasion, President Kibaki also assured that the government would continue to avail requisite resources and logistical support to the public service.

He declared that the government would continue to deploy highly qualified personnel in positions that best suit their competencies and allow maximum but guided autonomy in the performance of their duties.

The President further urged public institutions to uphold dynamism in the management of human resource in the current knowledge driven economies.

He asserted that the Public Service Commission of Kenya should base recruitment and promotion on competence and excellence demonstrated by officers in the course of performing of their duties.

President Kibaki remarked, "I would, therefore, like to see institutions, particularly the Public Service Commission of Kenya, introducing flexibility in recruitment and promotions based on demonstrated merit not just the years served."

On his part the Prime Minister Raila Odinga said performance contracting was evidence that government ministries were committed to being assessed by the highest standards available in delivery of service the public.

The Prime Minister disclosed that a survery conducted by his office had revealed a customer satisfaction index of 63.5 per cent which he said compared well with the situation in developed nations.

Mr Odinga affirmed that the Grand Coalition government had taken the war against corruption to the highest echelons.

He warned public servants who consistently performed poorly that they risked being sacked to give way to deserving Kenyans to serve their motherland.

During the occasion the Prime Minister named top performers in various sectors of the public sector, starting with the ministries, state corporations, universities, local authorities and tertiary institutions.

On his part the Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka affirmed that the country had made a strong economic comeback despite the effects of the post election violence and the prolonged drought.

He expressed confidence that country was currently at the threshold of a major take off.

Mr Musyoka commended the President for his visionary leadership and continued commitment to attainment of an efficient public service which acts as a fundamental component of a prosperous nation.

Others who addressed the forum included the Minister for Public Service Dalmas Otieno, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura and Permanent Secretary for Performance Contracting Richard Ndubai.

The occasion was attended by cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, chief executive officers of state corporations and parastatals, a delegation from the Republic of Nigeria and members of the diplomatic corps.