The Department of Public Service & Administration was formed to implement specific county government functions. The Fourth schedule, Part II of the Kenya Constitution, 2010, outlines the devolved functions to be performed by the Department. The County Department consists of two directorates namely; Human Resource Management and Public Administration.
The county public sector is under continued pressure from the citizenry to demonstrate high levels of performance and results that give value for money. However the department is faced with several challenges and emerging issues limiting its ability to deliver its functions effectively. The major challenges include lack of enabling policy, legislations, and institutional framework to guide the department in executing its mandate, lack of resource management tools, inadequate ICT infrastructure and weak coordination among the county government departments.
The Mandate of the Department is provided for in Article 186 of the Kenya Constitution 2010 and in Part II section 5 of the County Government Act No.17 of 2012. The Department Mandate shall include;
- Formulation and implementation of Public Administration, Human Resource and Information Communication Technology policies in collaboration with other departments and relevant institutions
- Coordination of the preparation and presentation to the County assembly the legal and institutional framework on Human Resource, Information Communication Technology and Public Administration.
- Enforcing staff discipline and code of ethics to ensure effective service delivery
- Mobilizing resources and enhancing public participation through barazas and stakeholder fora.
- Administration of salary, pensions and compensations schemes for the county staff
- Formulating guidelines on capacity building, training and performance monitoring of county civil servants.
This Department aspires to undertake a number of strategies to address the emerging issues in the county public service. One such agenda is the Result Based Management (RBM) initiative. This agenda calls for a paradigm shift, from process to results based operations of the public sector. Enhanced results orientation will promote participation, teamwork, improved programmes planning and management for the attainment of results. The second agenda is to develop a Human Resource Management strategy to guide the management of human resource in service delivery to enhance prudent recruitment, staff training and development, staff welfare and salary management. Another agenda is support for reforms and programmes that seek to strengthen decentralized units like sub-counties, wards and villages; coordination and monitoring of county government programmes, governance, justice, law and order.
- Existence of already established institutions and offices to offer services to the public
- Existence of skilled manpower
- Existence of a huge population and hence demand for services, goods and many other involvement/actors in the sector
- Ability to generate revenue
- Excellent collaborations among stakeholders/departments
- Availability of basic HR data
- Existence of laws/policies to govern functioning of the sub-sectors e.g. land policy
- Community participation and involvement
- Devolved structure of governance for easy coordination
- All the sections are understaffed hindering provision of services
- Inadequate funding
- Inadequate policies and legal framework
- Inadequate working equipment
- Inadequate health and safety measures at work place
- Lack of institutional framework to support the department
- Ignorance of community on devolved functions
- Low revenue collection and High wage bill
- Weak coordination among various government institution/agencies
- Goodwill of the public to support devolution
- Support by the National Government
- High expectation from the public
- Existence of a supportive legal framework
- Existence of devolved funds
- High population – there is high demand for services and labour supply
- Goodwill of the public to support devolution
- Support by the National Government
- High expectation from the public
- Existence of a supportive legal framework
- Existence of devolved funds
- High population – there is high demand for services and labour supply
The following are the department’s key achievements during the 2014/2015 FY:
Biometric Exercise
Objective: Ascertain actual employees and fish out ghost workers. Conducted from 13th October, 2014 to 24th October, 2014. Period extended by one week to ensure all register. Exercise was carried out by the CARPS E&Y Consultant Team.
Alcoholic Drinks Act, 2014
Launched in all Sub-counties by the CECM. Training of Sub-county committees undertaken – Tom Mboya Labour College – Kisumu. Regulations on how to implement the Act developed by Legal Advisor.
Paramilitary Training: December 2014
Conducted at Londiani Forestry College. Participants included Administrators and security personnel.Areas covered – drill & parades, investigation, intelligence, constitution, security, First aid, conflict resolution etc.
Civic education
On devolution for KNUT and KUPPET county officials conducted in September 2014 at Sunset Hotel Kisumu.
100 Metal Suggestion boxes procured
To be used in giving suggestions on security issues and Conveying information when need arises.
Launch of Huduma centers in each and every Sub County
Huduma centers have been launched in all the sub counties in order to attend to the needs of the citizens.
Human Resource Management and Advisory Committee (HRMAC) and Training Committee
They have been formed to spearhead the HR capacity enhancement and ensure development of HR procedures and guidelines.
Improvement of Records Management Services
Selected staff were trained on the proper ways of handling and management of records.
Procurement of tents, tables and seats
These were procured for official functions of the County and currently they are being used every Wednesday for the Huduma Bora Centre. It will save on the cost incurred in hiring them whenever there is a function.
Installation of CCTV
To improve on security within the County Headquarters, Closed Circuit Television cameras have been installed to offer surveillance at the county headquarters.
Dr. Nicholas Kadiga Mwandihi
County Executive Committee Member
Mr. Philip Alwodi Gavuna
Chief Officer - Public Service Management & ICT, Acting Chief Officer Office of the Governor
Vision
A transformed and accountable public service providing efficient to the citizens.
Mission
To provide overall leadership in public service and administration for enhanced socio-economic development
