The government of Kenya has unveiled a Performance Contracting tool to evaluate and enhance input among its
workforce.
Kenya became the second country to adopt the new tool after South Africa.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who chairs the Parliamentary Service Commission, supervised the new tool on March 1, 2021.
Performance Contracting is a process that seeks to enhance the performance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, in order to make them more accountable and enhance prudent use of resources in the provision of quality services to citizens.
Forty-seven members of senior Staff signed in favor, including directors, deputy directors, clerks, and deputy clerks. Performance is measured by their ability to act and react to the tasks assigned to them.
Muturi asked all members to embrace the change and see it as an opportunity for growth even though it will kick them out of their comfort zones while calling for self-assessment.
"Performance contracting is best practice in the entire public service sector. It has proven to be a tried and true method of ensuring performance and ensures every person plays their part in the organizational objectives," he said.
He further added that adequate awareness and sensitization had been done.
Muturi said that the committee will be willing to listen and respond to challenges, reviews, and develop policies to ease the transition into the new systems. He also assured fair treatment of all officers, regular engagement with management and provision of resources to enable all to meet the performance targets.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I want us to embrace this system in the full knowledge that it is to implement Article 127 on efficiency and effectiveness. If at the end of the day you don't achieve that, it is pointless," remarked Muturi as he thanked all the members.
Performance Contracting was first introduced in Kenya through the Parastatal Reform Strategy Paper which was approved in 1991. This strategy paper saw the introduction of performance contracting on a pilot basis to two agencies: Kenya Railways Corporation and the National Cereals and Produce Board.
