Government officers have been advised to forge a united front in their execution of services to the public.
Speaking during the closure of a two-day training workshop for Heads of Departments in Nyeri yesterday, Central Regional Commissioner (RC) Joshua Nkanatha said only synergy among government officers can guarantee efficient and effective service delivery to the public.
Nkanatha told the regional heads to adhere to the highest level of loyalty in implementing the key pillars development as outlined by President Dr. William Ruto in the Bottom up Economic Transformational Agenda (BETA).
Among the pillars include Agriculture, MSMEs, Healthcare, Housing and the Digital Superhighway.
“We want Kenyans to know what the government is doing for them. Remember it is the Kenyan people who are paying taxes to the government to serve them. The government is doing very good work right now but we allow naysayers to criticize that the government is doing nothing,” he told the regional heads.
“Governments are formed through elections and previous presidents were supported by the civil service .It should be the same with President Ruto,’’ he said.
Nkanatha similarly challenged the officers to embrace the culture of patriotism and loyalty to their government stressing that their only secret in service to the people lies in their commitment to the two.
He reminded the officers that much of the work will directly impact on the common mwananchi and as a result there was a need to let personal gains take a back seat in the pursuit of national good.
“We should not complain while we are in the government. Someone who is not in the government is complaining and we are also complaining. It can’t happen like that. We work at the pleasure of the current President. If you cannot serve the current government, you can as well exit the service and allow those who are ready to serve do so,” he stated.
The RC further raised the issue over lack of a coordinated messaging system among government officers in regard to on-going development projects terming the loophole a disservice to the common mwananchi as far as service delivery was concerned.
Nkanatha said he had noted with concern that officials from Nairobi were coming to inspect on-going projects on the ground without the knowledge of his office or even that of the County Commissioners.
He therefore advised officers whose department were undertaking development projects to ensure his office and those of the County Commissioners are aware to avoid future embarrassing moments.
“The messaging is that one team works and we are delivering as one government. Involve all of us and tell us to join you if there are challenges so that we can address them as a team. Let people know what the government is doing and what our President is doing for them,” added Nkanatha.
On integrity, Nkanatha has put errant officers on notice and advised them to reform before the law catches up with them.
He said among the many battles the government is currently waging in the public service is rooting out graft from the public service which he said remains a blot in the country’s development agenda.
The RC nevertheless said the government is still calling out to anyone who may be engaged in the vice to reform and involve himself in the service of the public.
“When you see people fighting over government services and saying there are officers who should not come near them, this is not the work of the government they are doing.
These are people who are out to enrich themselves. People are paying taxes to pay you, so that you can serve them. If the salary is not enough to meet your needs just resign and go and look for money somewhere else,” he challenged the officers.
By Samuel Maina
