Kitui Governor explains why
his Deputy is signing document
By The Anchor Reporter
Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe has put his top officials, including his deputy Mr Augustine Kanani Wambua on a Performance Contract.
Governor Malombe(R) with his Deputy
Kanani, speaking before he appended his signature took the microphone to 'clarify' why he was signing. " During the campaigns, we agreed with the Governor that he would assign me a ministerial potfolio and we agreed that my job would have to be measured. As I sign this document, I'm prepared to take the bull by the horns", he said before the Finance Minister Peter Kilonzo signed his contract followed by the Minister for Culture and Gender Ms. Phoebe Mutemi.
Governor Malombe had spoken earlier and indicated that he would not speak again. But after his deputy's clarification, Malombe returned to the podium smiling to explain that the circumstances leading to his deputy signing performance contract.
" I decided, not that we agreed. I decided to assign my deputy some responsibilities- just like I assigned a ministerial portfolio to my previous deputy Penina Malonza. I have also assigned Chief Officers to his office. A Deputy Governor can be a minister. He is the minister for Tourism, Hospitality, Disaster and Emergency Services with two Chief Officers. If you have such responsibilities, then you must be subjected to this process so that your work can be measured", Dr Malombe said calmly.
He concluded by saying this position should be well understood because " people who are shortsighted- and they are many- may politicize this with Siasa kidogo ( Petty politics ) but they will be wasting their time. This is the direction we will go".
Those who signed the contracts include the County Ministers (CECMs). The event was conducted in Dr. Malombe's office. The contracts were prepared in collaboration with officers from the Public Service Management Unit under the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary Mr Musalia Mudavadi.
The governor said the contracts are a tool for efficient and effective service delivery for improved livelihoods of the county residents. "The contracts will ensure transparency, accountability and responsiveness in serve delivery ", he said, adding that those who will perform well will be recognized and rewarded while the tail enders would be announced and sanctioned, hinting that they will be asked to leave the government due to failure to measure up to his administration's expectations.
The exercise is in accordance with Section 47 (1&2) of the County Government Act 2012 that provides for establishment of Performance Management Strategy by the County Executive Committee to evaluate performance of the County Public Service and the implementation of county policies.
The Governor pointed out that the strategy comprises performance indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bound. The exercise will cascade down to Chief Officers, Directors and Municipality Managers. The other officers will use the Performance Appraisal System (SPAS) with the CECMs overseeing the exercise in their ministries.
