Governors will not be appraised by government

Governors will not be appraised by the national government on their performance.

The national government, explained Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning Anne Waiguru, was aware that there was no constitutional or legal mandate that empowers it to prefect governors or the county governments.

“Whereas the national government believes in the need for all public institutions to be continually assessed on their performance, its responsibility on assessment of performance is restricted to organs within it,” Ms Waiguru said in a statement Monday.

Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia had said a governors’ summit to decide on the appraisal formula would be held to discuss development in counties.

The summit, to be chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, would get a means to have checks and balances in county governments, Mr Kimemia had said.

However, Ms Waiguru clarified that the county governments, as distinct levels of government, would be the ones to determine what processes, if any, they will institute to assess the performance of the organs and officers under their jurisdiction.

“Should the county governments require the assistance of the national government in this process, the matter that will be discussed at the various inter-governmental fora set up by the law.”

Mr Kimemia had said during the interview and while he was vetted by Parliament that the scorecard was a proposal to be agreed upon during the governors’ summit.

He also said civil servants deployed across the country would be appraised to ensure service delivery.

Mr Kimemia said the national framework for the counties was crucial for national government since counties implement government agenda at their level.

Under-performance among civil servants, he said, would be dealt with. “The duty of public servants at the county is to help governors deliver better services to the people and ensure the government’s agenda is implemented to the letter.”