Saturday, May 16, 2015

D-day looms for lazy PSs in new Uhuru reshuffle

PERFORMANCE: Kenya Airways CEO Mbuvi Nguze takes President Uhuru Kenyatta through the check-in process as acting Transport CS James Macharia looks on during the official opening of Terminal 2 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport yesterday.Photo/PSCU
PERFORMANCE: Kenya Airways CEO Mbuvi Nguze takes President Uhuru Kenyatta through the check-in process as acting Transport CS James Macharia looks on during the official opening of Terminal 2 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport yesterday.Photo/PSCU
PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to base a reshuffle of Principal Secretaries on a report he has ordered on the performance of various state departments.
Insiders say Uhuru is likely to fire top officials early next month if investigations reveal impropriety among them.
The President is said to have asked the recently-formed Presidential Delivery Unit to prepare the report.
Next week, the Public Service Commission will publish a shortlist of candidates to be interviewed for PS positions.
Close to 100 people applied for the jobs by the May 4 deadline, sources within the government have revealed.
Uhuru, however, wants to review the performance of each PS before deciding whether he or she goes, stays or gets transferred.
Sacked officials will be replaced immediately.
The PDU was created to help the President monitor the progress of his flagship projects in a bid to fulfill the promises made in the Jubilee Manifesto.
Uhuru is said to be keen to inject new blood into his administration to speed up the achievement of the Jubilee goals.
In government changes on April 17, the President appointed former Safaricom corporate affairs director Nzioka Waita as Secretary for Delivery.
Office of the President sources said the performance report was Uhuru's first assignment for Waita.
This development comes just days after the President sent a memo to all ministries expressing concern over the under-utilisation of development funds.
"The performance and delivery of public service in ministries remains unsatisfactory. This is unacceptable and has to change forthwith. It is further noted that poor performance and failure to deliver has continued to cause frustration to the public due to delays in completion of critical programmes and projects," Uhuru said in the May 5 memo.
The President added that the Cabinet, during a meeting on April 22, expressed concern that some Sh288 billion out of a total Sh486.9 billion was yet to be spent.
Uhuru is reportedly worried about the performance in the departments of Water, Infrastructure, Transport, Labour and Social Services, Coordination and Sports.
“"The Cabinet meeting expressed dismay that some government officers are more motivated and driven by greed for personal gain than the urge to serve and provide public services," the President said.
It is understood that at least one-third of the PSs will be sent packing in upcoming changes in government.
Almost halfway through his first term, Uhuru is said to be looking at cleaning up his government by getting rid of non-performers as well as preparing to appease areas that did not vote for Jubilee in 2013.
Almost two months ago, the President suspended four PSs — Nduva Muli (Transport), Mutea Iringo (Defence), Patrick Omuita (Mining) and James Teko (Water).
Five Cabinet Secretaries – Charity Ngilu (Lands), Michael Kamau (Transport), Kazungu Kambi (Labour), Davis Chirchir (Energy) and Felix Koskei (Agriculture) – also stepped aside.
There are reports that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has completed the files on the senior government officials.
Uhuru had, on March 26, asked the EACC to conclude the investigations within 60 days - with this period expiring on May 26.
According to insiders, the EACC has told the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge three CSs and two PSs.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/d-day-looms-lazy-pss-new-uhuru-reshuffle#sthash.AT62GCda.B41oEMSe.dpuf

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