Cabinet Secretaries sign performance contracts
Written by Inka FM on 1 August 2023
Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and heads of parastatals on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, signed performance contracts at the State House in Nairobi.
Speaking during the event, President William Ruto said that the event would transform government services to emulate developed economies such as Singapore.
“We’ve discussed Singapore, Malaysia and Asian tigers but this is the historic moment for Kenya to be the great nation that we always wanted it to be,” Ruto said.
During the event, President Ruto announced the immediate termination of all government pay bill numbers, ordering all government services to receive payments through a centralised system.
“From today all government agencies should use the government pay bill manned by the National Treasury. All other pay bills will be shut down and if there will be one operating after today… let me not say beyond that,” he said.
“From today, 1st August, there will be no other pay bill for government services except what we agreed. We all have to be digital.”
Late for performance contract signing
The President also cautioned members of the executive who were late for the performance contract signing event, ordering them to deliver written explanations for their lateness.
Two cabinet secretaries were reported to have been locked out of the event after arriving late.
“I don’t know whether it is because these performance contracts have been going on for 20 years that many people may be mistakenly thinking that it is a ritual. That is why people resort to the old incompetent excuses that there was traffic. We have a job because we have a contract. If you cannot keep time with your employer you have basically dismissed yourself,” Ruto said.
“For those who came late, who are members of the executive, I will be expecting a written explanation and it should not include matters of traffic.”
Ruto also warned government employees against embezzling funds meant for government projects.
“There are some people hearing the projects the government wants to undertake and think it is their opportunity to embezzle money, I want to tell them eyeball to eyeball, this will not happen. It will not be business as usual. There is no money to steal. There is only money to deliver on the aspirations of the people,” he added.
Ruto said the implementation of performance contacts has enabled the government to identify, collect, collate and analyse vital information connected with the performance of public agencies.
As a result, he says the initiative has made government decision-making increasingly evidence-based, and public officers have become increasingly aware of their accountability for actions and omissions, achievements and mistakes.
