County reaps benefits of performance contracting

Sep 21, 2023 - 20:51

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong'o during the release of performance results and signing of performance contracts. (Photo By Chris Mahandara).

Kisumu,

Thursday, September 21, 2023

KNA by Okumu Vera/Millicent Ouko

Service delivery and project implementation in Kisumu County has improved remarkably following the introduction of performance contracting.

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o said the county has realized improved efficiency and effectiveness, achieving a 70 per cent project completion rate in the last financial year. This, he said, was attributed to the county government's efforts to put all county departments through performance contracting.

The drive to institutionalize performance management in the county government, he said, was informed by the realization that the county workforce was riddled with bureaucracy with some departments not clear about their roles and mandates.

The initiative, he added, has also improved service delivery to the public and made county staff more accountable.

Speaking during the release of performance results for the financial year 2022/2023 and signing of performance contracts for the 2023/2024 financial year, Nyong’o attributed the success of the program to a citizen’s accountability initiative dubbed Huduma Mashinani which aided in sealing gaps in service delivery.

“Huduma Mashinani helped us to identify gaps in service delivery which were addressed during the financial year contributing to the overall success of the programme,” he said.

A County Huduma Mashinani Forum, he said has been planned to interrogate and consolidate reports from the Sub-Counties and present strategies for improved service delivery.

To boost on source revenue collection, Nyong’o said revenue collection has been enlisted on performance contracting, with officers in the department tasked to collect Sh. 2.2 billion this financial year.

A county reward system, he added, has been established to motivate best performing sectors.

The department of Infrastructure, Energy and Public Works emerged the overall winner followed by the departments of Finance and agriculture.

Courtesy; KNA