All government officials have been urged to take the lead in sensitising members of the public on the government’s development agenda as espoused in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformational Agenda (BETA) plan that guarantees improved livelihoods among all Kenyans.
Speaking during sensitization on National Government Development-County Implementation Coordination and Management Committee (NGD-CICMC) guidelines at the West Pokot County Public Service Board (CPSB) room, Rift Valley Regional Government Delivery Service (GDS) Director Sitati Olando said it was time that government officials, irrespective of their status, adopt a common approach when transacting government business.
Olando highlighted the need for collective synergy for effective realisation of the government’s agenda, noting that in the recent past there has been poor coordination during the transaction of government business.
“Let us not get into silos because we depend on each other for success under one government. We can share resources such as office spaces and vehicles, among other government utilities, for effective service delivery,” urged the GDS regional director.
Olando has further called on the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to be proactive by knowing what each other does at their various levels without taking government business casually.
The Regional Director reiterated that the adoption of the whole-government approach to doing things was now the order of business, hence the need for all stakeholders to embrace it.
Olando explained that the government, through the BETA plan, has five priority areas: agriculture and food security, housing and settlement, healthcare, small and microenterprises development (Hustler Fund), and the digital economy.
“Ensure that for any public baraza organised, time should be taken to address each of the five pillars so that people at the grassroots understand the government’s agenda well so as to stop falling prey to misinformation about the Kenya Kwanza Administration and the challenges currently facing Kenyans,” he advised.
Olando observed that in the recent past, government officials have not been working in unison, hence the need for a relook at the order of operations.
He urged departmental heads to take the NGD-CICMC meetings seriously since this is where key decisions are made and government projects, programmes, policies, and presidential directives are familiarised with.
He advised the NGD-CICMC to have regular consultative sessions with area county governments since the two levels of government ultimately serve the same mwananchi.
While taking members through the guidelines on the coordination and implementation of national government policies, programmes, and projects, Olando tasked the committee to enhance the coordination of the government’s development agenda, address issues arising, and facilitate harmonious working relationships.
“These guidelines outline a clear and concise framework for coordination and supervision of government business by ensuring that all entities work together seamlessly to facilitate the achievement of the government’s development agenda. All deliberations discussed therein are escalated to the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, where the Government Delivery Unit is domiciled, before onward transmission to the Office of the President,” Olando revealed.
Other guidelines outlined in the coordination framework are: updating the committee on ongoing projects; monitoring and evaluating the same projects; advising the government on priority development needs in the counties; and facilitating public participation based on feedback from the beneficiary communities, among others.
The meeting was chaired by Pokot Central Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Jeremiah Tumo on behalf of County Commissioner (CC) Apollo Okello.
In his closing remarks, Tumo called on the committee members to be prepared when called upon to give reports on the projects and programmes being implemented in their respective dockets.
The DCC said there was a lot happening within the county, but because of the lack of a coordination framework, not much has been disclosed to the residents.
By Richard Muhambe
