The Public Service Commission is conducting a capacity building exercise for the North Rift counties of Uasin Gishu, Turkana, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi on human resource matters arising from county appeals.
The retooling exercise is targeting County Public Service Boards (CPSBs), County Assembly Service Boards (CASBs) and County Executives on human resource matters and is aimed at capacity building the participants on all human resource matters.
The capacity-building exercise also seeks to identify the challenges experienced by counties in handling appeals before the Commission with a view of improving processes, enhancing capacity of county human resource personnel and improving efficiency, while at the same time enhancing skills as well as knowledge sharing and adoption of best practices.
Speaking during the launch of the 3-day sensitisation forum at the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI), Eldoret, Uasin Gishu, the Public Service Commission Vice Chairperson, Mary Kimonye indicated that the decision was made after the Commission observed a serious gap in the management of human resource functions and unfair labour practices in the counties.
“The National Government, under the 4th Schedule of the Constitution is mandated to provide capacity building and technical assistance to County Governments. In exercise of this mandate, the Commission has finalised 776 appeals and applications for review since April 2022,” noted the PSC vice chairperson.
“In the process of handling these appeals and applications for review, the commission observed a serious gap in the management of human resource functions and unfair labour practices in the counties,” she added.
She revealed that the commission this year processed 233 appeals and reviewed 24 applications.
Kimonye said the forum will provide much-needed technical support to county governments in creating awareness, pointing out gaps in human resource practices with a view to ensuring that the same is aligned with the existing laws and human resource policies.
“It is our expectation that this interaction will achieve meaningful future engagements, better management of human resources in the counties, reduction of appeals filed at the Commission, and better human resource management practices in the counties,” noted Kimonye.
PSC CEO Paul Famba affirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring ethical, efficient, effective, motivated and highly competent public service to support the president’s strong passion of making Kenya a first-world country.
“We are here to sharpen your skills to ensure we are a qualified public service, to ensure justice for the employer and employee. We are enhancing your capacity to do right things on matters of HR to ensure an excellent public service to support the president’s passion to make Kenya a first world country,” he noted.
The Training will cover various areas including the legal framework in management of human resource in counties, emerging issues in the management of county appeals, role of human resource advisory committee, role of County Public Service Boards (CPSBs), County Assembly Service Boards (CASBs), county secretaries and County Chief Officers in the management of human resource.
The forum will also offer deep insight into the disciplinary control in counties.
Uasin Gishu Governor in his speech, delivered by his deputy, Evans Kapkea, said the forum comes at a crucial moment as counties work to strengthen public service systems that are fair, accountable and efficient
He commended the Commission for creating a space for dialogue, learning, and capacity building around human resource management and staff appeals which he said will allow counties to identify gaps, adopt and share best practices, as well as continuously improve their service delivery systems.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
