Government Unveils Initiative To Boost Performance Management, Accountability
Eliud Owalo
By Suleiman Mbatiah
The government has launched a fresh initiative to strengthen performance management across its institutions, aiming to boost accountability and efficiency.
The move follows growing concerns over the underperformance of some State agencies and its effect on national development goals.
Speaking during a performance review at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) headquarters in Mombasa, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President for Performance and Delivery Management, Mr Eliud Owalo, unveiled plans for a new legal framework. He said this would ensure public entities justify their existence by meeting their mandates.
Joined by Mr Joshua Mwiranga, the Principal Administrative Secretary in the Performance Unit, and officials from the Government Delivery Unit in the Coast region, Mr Owalo introduced the draft Performance Management Bill. The proposed law seeks to make performance appraisals legally binding, compelling State agencies to show concrete results tied to their roles.
“Every organisation must prove its worth based on its mandate,” Mr Owalo said. “We are working to embed performance evaluation and management in law. The draft Bill will soon go to Parliament, and once enacted as the Performance Management Act, appraisal outcomes will carry legal weight.”
The legislation will set up a strong system to track the efficiency of public institutions, with regular performance reviews forming a key part of accountability measures. A reward-and-sanction system will also be rolled out to motivate top performers and address underperformance.
“We want a framework where agencies failing to meet targets face consequences, while those excelling are recognised and rewarded,” Mr Owalo added.
KPA Chairperson Benjamin Tayari and Managing Director Capt. William Ruto raised concerns about external factors affecting their operations. They called for a broader evaluation approach that includes challenges beyond their control.
“Many of our performance bottlenecks come from other stakeholders and government bodies we rely on,” Mr Tayari said. “Smooth coordination with these entities would resolve most issues.”
Capt. Ruto agreed, urging that assessments factor in delays caused by other agencies.
To tackle such concerns, Mr Owalo announced that Service Level Agreements (SLAs) would be introduced between government bodies. These agreements will be vital for agencies like KPA, which depend on others to achieve national goals.
“We will ensure SLAs are in place between KPA and related organisations to improve service delivery,” he said.
KPA, which manages the Port of Mombasa, Port of Lamu, Kisumu Port, and various inland container depots, will need to set clear SLAs with agencies linked to port operations.
The Performance Management Bill is seen as a major step in Kenya’s push to enhance governance and public service delivery. By raising standards for State agencies, it aims to drive efficiency and build a stronger culture of accountability across the public sector.
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