County executives sign performance contracts for enhanced service delivery

By Peter Ochieng

Bungoma governor Kenneth Makelo Lusaka on Thursday, August 22, 2024 signed performance contracts for the 2024/2025 financial year, with members of his executive, in a move aimed at enhancing service delivery and accountability.

County Executive Committee Members (CECMs), Chief Officers and Directors put pen to paper as commitment to top notch service delivery, during an event held at the Bungoma County Auditorium.

The county boss in his address emphasised the importance of innovation, adaptability, and sustainability in public service.

“Performance contracts represent a commitment to transparency and accountability, ensuring that the county's resources are used effectively to benefit all residents,” he stated.

He outlined ambitious goals for the coming year, including boosting the economy, preserving cultural heritage, promoting health and trade, and ensuring sustainable water supply.

To achieve the objectives, Lusaka called for collaboration among government departments, local communities and international partners. “My hope is that the county will serve as a model for development across the nation,” he added.

The government has used performance contracting as a key accountability tool since 2004 in its endeavour to improve service delivery in the Public Service, with some governors picking it up upon the advent of county governments in 2013.

Performance contracting is part of the broader public sector reforms aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness in the management of the public service.

It can be defined as a binding agreement between two or more parties for performing, or refraining from performing some specified act or acts, over a specified period of time.

It is a branch of management control system, which provides information that is intended for managers in performing their jobs and to assist organisations in developing and maintaining viable patterns of behaviour.

As such, performance measurement, for some very good reasons, has been widely seen in many developing countries as a way of improving public service delivery.