Kisumu County will continuously strengthen its performance management cycle and deploy appropriate tools, including sustained capacity building for its staff in order to meet the needs and expectations of the residents, Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o has said.
To achieve this, Nyong’o said his government would use all available means and resources and also continue to enter into strategic collaboration with development partners with the sole purpose of ensuring their employer, who is the common mwananchi, is satisfied.
“People of Kisumu County have entrusted us, especially as the Executive, with the responsibility of delivering tangible, impactful services that improve their lives,” the governor said.
That trust, Nyong’o noted, could only be reciprocated through clear, measurable, and achievable performance targets.
He was speaking during the performance contract signing ceremony for the County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) and Chief Officers in his office on Thursday.
“What we want to sign today is not a mere formality. It is an instrument through which we translate my administration’s manifesto into concrete outcomes. I thank each of you for making time to agree to formally commit yourselves to the target we are pursuing,” the governor added.
He emphasised that all performance targets must be firmly anchored in our County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP), noting that at a broader level, their work contributes directly to national development priorities aligned to Kenya Vision 2030, the Second Medium Term Plan, and the global development commitments to which Kenya is a signatory.
To this end, Nyong’o reiterated that the emphasis placed on performance management by both the National Government and the Council of Governors could not be ignored.
Nyong’o stated that it’s in this regard that the Council of Governors (COG) has reviewed and strengthened the Performance Management Framework, resulting in the Integrated Performance Management Framework.
This approach deliberately links individual performance to departmental objectives and ultimately, to county-wide goals by integrating staff performance appraisal with departmental performance contracts.
Subsequently, the governor said he expected his staff to ensure a proper cascading of targets, with clear individual accountability at every level of the organisation.
He observed that this year’s performance contract signing was taking place in the third quarter of the financial year because of the systemic challenges, including budgetary processes and the rollout of the e-Government Procurement system.
“These constraints notwithstanding, your responsibility as an individual remains unchanged. I expect each of you to demonstrate innovation, adaptability, and problem-solving capacity in ensuring that the negotiated targets are met,” Nyong`o reaffirmed.
He commended the County Strategy, Policy and Delivery Directorate for maintaining the necessary institutional pressure to ensure this process is undertaken every financial year, in line with the Council of Governors’ Integrated County Performance Management Framework.
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 good and efficient service delivery to the citizens 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
