Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde has warned state officers who ask for bribes before serving members of the public that they risk losing their jobs and being prosecuted in a court of law.
Masinde said all people seeking services from government offices should be treated equally, with dignity, and be served within the shortest time possible.
The county commissioner spoke at the Narok Huduma Centre premises during the launch of Customer Service Week, an event also attended by Narok Deputy Governor Tamalinye Koech and Narok County Government Chief of Staff Francis Wanyeki.
He called on members of the public to report cases of corrupt officials to the relevant authorities, who will then investigate and bring the corrupt officers to book.
“The current Kenya Kwanza administration does not tolerate any form of corruption. Any official involved in the vice must be brought to book,” warned Masinde, while urging members of the public to ask for an official receipt for any service that requires payment.
The most affected services, he said, were the issuance of birth certificates and P3 forms, where officers demanded bribes in order to provide fast services.
The Deputy Governor commended the Huduma Centre employees, saying he was a beneficiary of the effective job they do.
Koech said the county government will collaborate with the national government to take the huduma services to the grassroots, where people pay a lot of money to get to the urban centre.
The deputy governor challenged all county employees to familiarise themselves with the policies and roles of their respective departments so that they could effectively answer any queries arising from members of the public.
On his part, the chief of staff asked all government employees to be organised and decent so that they could serve their customers in a civilised manner.
“Most customers do not know departments or ministries; what they know is the government. When they come seeking services from you, please direct them to the relevant desk in a friendly manner,” Wanyeki advised.
Customer service week is celebrated annually worldwide during the first week of October, with this year’s theme being ‘Team Service.’
By Ann Salaton
