NAIROBI: KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE RT HON. RAILA A. ODINGA, EGH, MP, PRIME MINISTER, REPUBLIC OF KENYA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EVALUATION RESULTS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC AGENCIES FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2009/2010

Your Excellency the President,

Your Excellency the Vice President,

Hon. Ministers and Asst. Ministers,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

We are here for the evaluation results for all public agencies which signed performance contracts for the year 2009/2010. Thank you all for joining us.

Ladies and Gentlemen

The performance contracting system has been undergoing significant positive changes in the past three years. The processes of target setting, negotiation, vetting and evaluation are now almost fully automated. The next frontier is making the evaluation methodology fully web-based. This will minimize direct interface with institutional management. As I mentioned at the release of results last year, the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning, National Development & V2030, and the Performance Contracting Department are kicking off “Target Sector Hearings.” These hearings will ensure public participation, to secure public ownership of agency performance targets. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Development Partners are supporting the process of performance contracting on two main fronts namely;

a.      Developing Information, Education and Communication Strategy for the Performance Contracting Department, and undertaking Publicity Campaign on Implementation of Service Delivery Charters;

b.     Development of performance management software: the key objective here will be to develop infrastructure for an automated performance management information system.

These are among a raft of measures being put in place to improve the performance contracting system.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The System has faced a number of challenges since inception. To address these challenges, I appointed a team to review the process. The team completed its work and submitted its report. The report has since been adopted and its recommendations unanimously approved for implementation by Government.

The implementation of the recommendations will herald the following key changes beginning with the 8^th performance contracting cycle:

·        Enhanced alignment to, and focus on the Kenya Vision 2030, Medium Term Plan;

·        Enhanced objectivity and accuracy in performance evaluation through the adoption of a robust evaluation formula which incorporates benchmarks;

·        Government Accountability for results through an Integrated Performance Management System that includes Judiciary and Parliament;

·        An enabling policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework putting performance management within the context of the constitution of Kenya;

The Government has already gazetted a Policy Steering Committee on Performance Management. The Committee is in the process of designing modalities for delivering these changes. Future performance contracting results will therefore bear significant differences from past results, including the ones that we are announcing here today.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In conclusion, I wish to note that several African countries are seeking the support of Kenya to implement performance contracting systems. This therefore is among the many initiatives in which Kenya is providing critical leadership. We should nurture and perfect it as we seek to provide expertise across the continent.

We are proud to announce to Kenyans, that the performance contracting system was last month named Overall Winner of All Africa Public Sector Innovation Awards 2010 in the area of “Innovation in Systems and Processes of Governance.” I have the honor and privilege therefore to hand over the award to Your Excellency.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I take the opportunity therefore to thank Your Excellency for allowing the public service latitude to innovate. I also wish to appreciate the efforts made by The Hon. Minister for Public Service and the Head of Public Service in supporting the process to date and my two Permanent Secretaries for ensuring expeditious coordination and implementation.

I thank all Permanent Secretaries and public servants for their diligence and commitment to improving public service delivery. Last but not least, I wish to thank the Ad Hoc Teams and our Development Partners and the Panel of Experts for the achievements this far.

With these remarks, it is now my singular privilege and honor, to invite H.E. the President to give his remarks and to join me in releasing the performance report for the 2009/2010 Financial Year.

THANK YOU