Governor Announces Round Two Of County Workers Spot Awards In April
Public servants who have demonstrated exemplary performance will be rewarded this month under a spot award programme introduced by Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi.
The programme is aimed at motivating employees as part of Governor Muriithi’s effort to streamline service delivery by modernizing the county public service.
He introduced performance management system last December with spot award programme which saw 14 excellent employees receive cash awards in December last year.
Spot awards are based on the belief that organizational performance is the sum total of individual performance. It is a model embraced by high performing corporations across the world as a way of motivating their employees but has been lacking in Kenya’s public service sector.
While launching the programme last year, Governor Muriithi said the awards will be given on quarterly basis performance appraisals will be done twice a year.
“I want individuals eager to create positive change and who want to build the greatest county with the best quality of life undeterred by the existing challenges,” he said while announcing second phase of the awards in Nanyuki.
The governor stated that all appointments, promotions, reassignments, or any other personnel action will from now on be accompanied by performance targets so that staff can be clear of what is expected of them.
Introduction of performance management system is expected to guide promotions in the county public service also provide an exit route for non-performers.
The county assembly has already launched investigations against the county public service board after Governor Muriithi petitioned for its dissolution due to in incompetence and non-performance.
“Despite being in the office for the last five years, the board has not conducted a single staff appraisal until January this year,” he told the assembly.
County secretary Karanja Njora said departmental heads have embarked on the process of identifying staff who will be rewarded. The names will then be vetted by a county committee.
Among the county employees who were rewarded last December were those who went out of their way to enroll the highest numbers of households to NHIF and registering farmers to contract farming.
Two others were rewarded for grading more than 100 kilometres of road between Nanyuki- and Loniek within four days ahead of the amateur Fun Race on November 25.
“It’s our way of saying well done to high performers. It is not intended to reward average performance while the citation must show very clearly where the staff member has gone beyond the call of duty, or performed that duty at such high level of efficiency, or achieved such high level of results, that it is not ordinary,” he said.
The county’s 1,862 strong work force is large enough to transform the county.
“We want you to be proud to be a public servant in Laikipia. But remember a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Do not be the weak link!
“We want you to be proud to be a public servant in Laikipia. But remember a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Do not be the weak link!” the governor said.
All appointments, promotions, reassignments, or any other personnel action will from now on be accompanied by performance targets so that staff can be clear of what is expected of them.
He urged county workers to keep simple rules: “We keep time; we keep our promises; we under promise and over deliver and, we are here to provide a service. We must walk the talk.”
The governor said the destiny of the people of Laikipia and future generation rests on the shoulders of county workers.
‘So ask yourself this. Why are you here, in this public service, at this time? Are you proud of the work that you do? Are you the best in the world at what you do? If this was your business, would you employ yourself? Would you employ your co-worker? If you were an outsider judging the performance of this service, what grade would you pronounce?” he posed.
