To transform public service
delivery, the government will now link funding and rewards to performance
outcomes, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Performance and Delivery
Management at the Executive Office of the President, Eliud Owalo, has said.
Speaking during a ministerial
performance review retreat in Nanyuki, Owalo unveiled a robust performance-based
management framework that will require government institutions to deliver
tangible results aligned with their mandates.
“Government organisations will now
be required to demonstrate tangible results in line with their mandates,” Owalo
declared.
The forum was organised by the
Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
He said the reward management
framework will link recognition and incentives directly to performance
outcomes, further encouraging a results-oriented culture in the public sector.
“A reward and sanction regime will
be introduced to incentivise high-performing institutions; those that excel
will receive increased budget allocations, while underperformers will face
sanctions,” he said.
Owalo said the retreat was the first
of its kind and should be a turning point in how the government evaluates its
own performance.
“This is the first time I have seen
a Cabinet Secretary convene a working session focused squarely on delivery. I
hope this sets the pace for other ministries,” he said.
Owalo emphasised that all
performance contracts for the 2025/2026 financial year must be signed by July
1, 2025.
These contracts will cascade down
from top leadership to individual staff through detailed scorecards to ensure
accountability at all levels.
He underscored the importance of
strategic planning in navigating a complex economic and policy environment.
“You must have a strategic plan to
give you the roadmap to survive in a turbulent environment. Without it, you're
leaving everything to chance and are likely to fail,” he warned.
Owalo emphasized the critical role
of midterm reviews in the implementation of five-year strategic plans.
“These reviews are essential for helping
ministries refine priorities, recalibrate strategies, and ensure high-impact
delivery over the remaining two and a half years of the current planning
cycle,” he noted.
He further called for greater public
engagement and transparency.
He urged Cabinet and Principal
Secretaries to hold quarterly updates to inform citizens about progress and
challenges.
“Public trust is earned through
consistent, honest communication,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives, Wycliffe
Oparanya, called on all departments and agencies to complete their strategic
plans and service charters by June 30, 2024.
He revealed that six focus areas had been
identified—three in MSMEs and three in cooperatives.
Oparanya also reaffirmed the
government’s commitment to coffee sector reforms.
“Coffee is our gold. Reviving this
sector is central to Kenya’s economic recovery,” he said.
The Coffee Act is currently under
review, alongside proposed amendments to the Cooperatives Act now before the
Senate.
The new approach mandates that all
government initiatives be time-bound, measurable, and assigned to specific
accountable units.
Owalo insisted that strategic plans
must align with key national and continental frameworks, including the
Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), MTP IV, Kenya Vision 2030, EAC
Vision 2050, and AU Agenda 2063.
To eliminate duplication and
inefficiencies, Owalo announced the institutionalization of Service Level Agreements
(SLAs) between government entities that share responsibilities.
He also encouraged institutions to
be proactive in resource mobilization.
“Use your strategic plans to pitch to
development partners and investors. Don’t depend entirely on Treasury allocations,”
he advised.
He concluded by reminding ministries
of their role in delivering on President William Ruto’s pre-election service
charters signed with all 47 counties.
