Speaking during the signing of performance contracts for Cabinet Secretaries, the President said the government will not tolerate mediocrity in public institutions/FILE
Speaking during the signing of performance contracts for Cabinet Secretaries, the President said the government will not tolerate mediocrity in public institutions.
“I challenge every one of you who is charged with the management of our public institutions to reflect whether they are able and to demonstrate that they are willing to join our journey. Should you find yourself either unable or unwilling, you owe it to Kenya, and to your conscience to stand aside in good faith,” Kenyatta said.
The Head of State said Kenyans do not expect to hear excuses but deserve proper service delivery.
He has also given a stern warning to corrupt leaders whom he said have caused increased inefficiencies hence poor service delivery to Kenyans.
“It is irritating to observe that part of our national challenges are caused, not by unavoidable or elemental phenomena, but sheer incompetence and corruption by people who ought to know better,” President Kenyatta said.
“This mediocrity lays to waste the efforts of committed, diligent and professional public servants and inflicts misery on thousands of taxpaying Kenyans,” he added.
The Head of State also launched the Vision 2030 Second Medium Term Plan for 2013 to 2017.
The President said he would not allow the country’s journey to progress be blocked by people who give no value for public money spent on them, emphasizing that time had come to detect and remove them from public service.
But he assured that his administration would fully support, recognize and reward those who were conscientious and hard working.
“I will repeat this… we will be rewarding success and heavily penalizing failure. Government will no longer offer refuge to loafers and joy riders,” he said.
The President disclosed that the Public Service Commission will in the coming weeks complete the Framework for Rewards and Sanctions Policy for Public Officers, which forms the basis for promotion and retention of public servants.
Speaking during the occasion, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru said performance contracting has contributed to improvement in public service delivery since its inception in 2004.
“They want to see a public service that is professional, dynamic and ethical – one that is motivated to perform in a manner that will dramatically improve public service delivery and transform their lives,” Waiguru said.
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