Public servants in Nairobi County have been called upon to be citizen-centric whenever they are providing government services.
The incoming Nairobi Regional Commissioner (RC) Gilbert Kitiyo noted that as public servants they are expected to be conversant with government policies, projects and programmes to enable them to direct the public on what is required of them as beneficiaries.
Kitiyo pointed out that as government employees, they are required to discharge their duties with integrity, diligence and on time.
“The timely service delivery should be accompanied by good public relations to the satisfaction of those being served,” he emphasised.
RC Kitiyo was speaking during a familiarisation visit at Starehe and Kamukunji sub-counties to acquaint himself with the areas and the officers he will be working with when he addressed the National Government Administration Officers and departmental heads from various ministries.
He stressed that government services offered by officers should be free, except for services that require payment, for which the amount being paid should be exact.
The RC also encouraged the officers to embrace teamwork for efficient and effective service delivery, saying that without it they might not succeed in accomplishing most of the tasks assigned to them.
“You must provide leadership in your areas of jurisdiction and be able to coordinate government functions well. You must understand your jobs thoroughly to enable you to discharge your functions effectively,” he stressed.
The RC, who was flanked by the Nairobi County Commissioner David Wanyonyi and the Nairobi Regional Administration Police Commander Peter Chemos, emphasised the need for public servants to be conversant with government policies, projects and programmes.
He observed that when officers understand the policies, they will be able to direct the public as beneficiaries of the services they offer, as well as answer questions from the public.
He singled out SHA, the Chiefs Act, the Environment Act, the Registration of Persons Act and the 100 percent transition in schools among the policies and projects they should be conversant with.
“Government does a lot of projects and communicating clearly on the projects and policies to the public in a language they understand will enable them to participate fully and take care of the projects,” he said.
Kitiyo told the chiefs and their assistants to ensure that all school-going children in their areas of jurisdiction are admitted to schools as per the 100 percent transition policy, noting that its success will curb incidences of criminal activities in the sub-counties.
He also urged the administrators to promote peace building in their areas, as well as mobilise members of the public to register for SHA, affordable housing and other activities that link their people with beneficial opportunities.
“You should be in the forefront in coordinating and monitoring development projects in your areas and in case you detect problems in the implementation, escalate them to the relevant authorities,” he advised.
He at the same time urged all public servants to uphold qualities of good leadership and to embrace consultation for efficiency.
The RC noted that 80 percent of the problems members of the public face are psychological and officers should serve those seeking services in their offices with decorum, noting that when people are spoken to well and directed well, they will be satisfied.
By Bernadette Khaduli
