Prime minister Raila Odinga (left) hands over the signed performance contract to education minister Prof Sam Ongeri (centre) and his PS Prof James Ole Kiyiapi during a function where permanent secretaries were signing performance contracts at KICC on February 20 2012. PHOTO / PHOEBE OKALL
By OLIVER MATHENGE omathenge@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, February 20 2012 at 22:30
Posted Monday, February 20 2012 at 22:30
Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday told civil servants eyeing political positions to resign now.
The PM said that it would be a conflict of interests if they used their current offices to campaign for elective positions.
Mr Odinga said that those planning to join politics should quit now instead of continuing to enjoy the comfort of the civil service as this would compromise service delivery.
The PM said that with the elections only months away, it was important that Kenyans were served diligently by non-partisan civil servants so that the coalition government leaves an enviable legacy for those who will take over.
“If you want to leave the civil service to politics my advice to you is you make an early decision to avoid conflict of interest. Walk the talk; don’t fear that you want to remain in the comfort of the public service and campaigning at the same time. Go and be a full time politician and meet other politicians in the field,” said Mr Odinga.
He spoke while signing performance contracts for Permanent Secretaries, some of whom have declared interest in politics.
The Elections Act requires civil servants vying for elective seats to quit public office seven months to the polls but, most say they will do so after the date of elections is made known.
Education PS James ole Kiyiapi, who plans to run for president said that he would resign next month after overseeing the release of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination results.
“I will be transitioning after the release of the Form Four results and I have to do this a couple of weeks after the release. I must be launching my bid before April; I am ready now to do it,” said Prof Kiyiapi.
Other who have declare interest in politics include Immigration PS Emmanuel Kisombe, his Livestock Development counterpart Kenneth Lusaka and Forestry and Wildlife PS Mohamed Wamwachai.
Mr Kisombe has declared interest in the Taita Taveta County governor’s post, Mr Lusaka for the governor’s post in Bungoma, and Mr Wamwachai for governorship of Kwale.
Also planning to leave is the chief executive of the Higher Education Loans Board Mr Benjamin Cheboi, who is eyeing the governor’s seat in Baringo County.
Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia is gunning for the governor’s seat in the capital city as is Mumias Sugar Company chief executive Evans Kidero,
Last December, Public Service head at the time, Mr Francis Muthaura asked those wishing to vie for political seats to comply with the law and quit as soon as possible.
Last December, Public Service head at the time, Mr Francis Muthaura asked those wishing to vie for political seats to comply with the law and quit as soon as possible.
“A public officer who intends to contest an election shall resign from public office at least seven months before the date of the election. Those who leave the service will be facilitated to do so in the shortest time possible,” he said in a circular dated December 22.
Mr Muthaura’s directive came soon after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission set January 14, 2012, as the last day civil servants who want to contest in the elections should hold office.
The date was based on the probability that the elections will be held on August 14, 2012.
But a Constitutional Court ruling has left the country unsure of when the elections will be held after it gave two options — one being when the Grand Coalition is dissolved or when the term of Parliament expires next year.
At the function, Mr Odinga also said public institutions such as the Central Bank of Kenya should also embrace performance contracting.
Citing the recent saga that hit the CBK over the fall in value of the shilling, Mr Odinga said that this would have been avoided if CBK had agreed to sign performance contracts.
“There will be no sacred cows as far as subscribing to performance contracting is concerned. The consumer rights spell out the responsibility of government to provide quality and affordable goods and services to citizens,” said Mr Odinga.
Speaking at the same function, acting head of public service Francis Kimemia said county governors to be elected at the next elections will have to sign performance contracts.
He told participants that governors would be occupying a critical position that involves huge amounts of money, hence the need to sign contracts to ensure efficiency in the management of public affairs.
Mr Odinga called on permanent secretaries, as accounting officers, to remain focused and efficient for the much needed quality service delivery to be realised.
He also emphasised that the performance contracts contained priorities and targets which resonate with public expectations and millennium development goals.He challenged the PSs to remain non-partisan in their delivery of services and keep off politics as the country gets into the electioneering period.
“A case in point is the Agricultural and Rural Development sector. Under this item, public institutions will implement projects which include the construction of water harvesting structures in 170 constituencies, at a cost of 6.4 million shillings per constituency,” he said.
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