The County Government of Nakuru has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing accountability and improving overall performance in the delivery of public services through collaborative reviews of performance scores.
According to County Secretary Dr. Samwel Mwaura, this move will help improve the accuracy of the evaluation, allowing for targeted enhancements and adjustments where necessary to achieve the county’s strategic goals.
He added that the validation of the performance evaluation results for the FY2023/24 Performance Contracts is part of a broader effort to ensure that Nakuru County residents benefit from transparent governance and effective service delivery systems.
While officiating a two-day workshop, Dr. Mwaura stated that the forum, which brought together departmental heads, focused on financial stewardship, service delivery, adherence to core mandates, institutional transformation, and the handling of cross-cutting issues.
“These areas are critical to ensuring that county departments perform effectively and meet set objectives for the fiscal year,” he noted, adding that it would foster a culture of responsibility and transparency across all departments.
In September last year, Governor Susan Kihika oversaw the signing of performance contracts that included specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives, allowing for a quantitative performance assessment.
During the signing of performance contracts by the County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) at the county headquarters, Governor Kihika emphasized that this exercise makes her administration more accountable to the electorate.
Of particular concern, the Governor highlighted the recurring issue of the County Government of Nakuru failing to fully utilize development funds, resulting in an average of Sh5.7 billion from the development budget rolling over every year.
“I hereby instruct the performance contracting committee, chaired by the County Secretary, to provide me with quarterly progress reports, including evidence of achievements,” she ordered, while also calling for support for the program’s implementation.
Key initiatives under this program include regular performance audits, the implementation of modern monitoring and evaluation tools, and capacity-building training for county officials. The county also plans to establish a public feedback mechanism.
The County has outlined a timeline for these reforms, with periodic progress reports expected to keep the public informed. This effort aligns with the Kenya Kwanza’s broader development agenda, which aims to bring government services closer to the ordinary people.
