Kisumu County Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o has warned non-performing officers in his government to shape up or ship out.
“Performance Results for the 24/25 Financial Year performance have shown some improvement, however, there are areas where performance fell short. Procurement challenges delays, coordination failures, and capacity limitations have played their part in this,” Nyong’o stated.
He added that although systems could be having issues which affect performance, the governor urged his staff not wholly hide behind systems failure as a reason for underperforming.
“In some instances, the deficit is not technical; it is attitudinal. Where there has been complacency, where urgency has been replaced by comfort, and where responsibility has been treated as optional, the results are predictably inadequate. This is not acceptable in public service,” Nyong’o retorted.
The Governor was speaking in Kisumu on Friday when he unveiled performance results for the 24/25 Financial Year performance which he said were not just statistics but a reflection of the work done, the lives impacted, and way forward.
The event also recognized those departments and individuals who have demonstrated excellence where Nyong’o said the awards should serve not only as recognition but also as motivation to raise the standard of public service across the county.
The health sector scooped the topmost award with education hot on the heels as first runners up. Housing and Urban planning was awarded as the most improved in the financial year.
He lauded the healthcare sector in the county which scooped the top prize, saying the county government will continue to reduce patient waiting times, improve access to essential medicines, and strengthen maternal care.
The governor reiterated that public service is not a refuge for indifference, adding that those who have not met their obligations must reflect seriously and not defensively on whether they are equal to the task entrusted to them .Adding that Accountability, after all, is not punitive; it is corrective.
Nyong’o noted performance management in the counties is the discipline that turns plans into outcomes and strengthens accountability, improves efficiency, and builds public trust. When we measure what matters, we are able to correct what fails and scale what works.
The Governor also hailed public participation which he said has ensured that the voices of Kisumu citizens shape the priorities of his government and budgets.
Nyong’o observed that mainstreaming performance management in the devolved units is gaining momentum in the country through the Council of Governors (COG), with support from the Kenya Devolution Support Programme and our development partners.
He added that at the national level, the development of the Draft Public Performance Management Bill 2025 signals a firm commitment to anchoring this practice in law.
Nyong’o further stated that Kisumu County remains fully aligned with this national direction and commended the Directorate of Performance Management for its leadership and collaboration with partners at both levels of government.
“The people of Kisumu can rest assured that our responsibility is clear: to deliver meaningful and measurable results. But let us not indulge ourselves. The citizens of Kisumu are not persuaded by frameworks but by outcomes,” he said.
Nyong’o added, “They measure us not by policy documents but by whether a mother receives timely care, whether a child learns in dignity, whether roads are passable, and whether opportunity is within reach. Performance management is simply the instrument through which we subject ourselves to that test.”
He also lauded the Strategy, Policy and Delivery Department for ensuring that this performance cycle remains consistent and credible, in line with the Integrated County Performance Management Framework. This process enables us to evaluate ourselves objectively and continuously improve service delivery.
Nyong’o added that this discipline enables his administration to objectively assess performance and to make informed decisions grounded in evidence.
Signing our performance contracts is a practice that has become an integral part of our governance culture. Regardless of rank or responsibility, this exercise binds all of us to the same standard of accountability, discipline, and results-orientated leadership.
Performance Appraisal (PAS) was introduced in Kenyan public service in 2005 by the Kibaki Administration to help promote the good and efficient service delivery to the citizen who access services.
It has Performance Contracting Guidelines whose sole purpose is to support public institutions in the identification of performance indicators and annual targets, undertaking negotiations, vetting and implementation of the PCs, and annual performance evaluation.
by Mabel Keya-Shikuku and Salma Omollo
