Raila declines to sign performance contracts for 'absent' ministers

By Athman Amran

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has expressed anger at ministers and PSs who skipped the signing of the 2010/2011 performance contracts.

The PM also declined to sign the contracts for the missing ministers and PSs unless they showed up in person.

Friday’s ceremony was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.

"I won’t sign the contracts if the ministers are not here," Raila said, adding the function is important and occurs only once a year.

Among ministries Raila declined to sign contracts for included that of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s Home Affairs, Mutula Kilonzo’s Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs and Najib Balala’s Tourism.

Other ministers who skipped the function were Esther Murugi (Special Programmes), Chirau Ali Mwakwere (Trade), Noah Wekesa (Wildlife), Amos Kimunya (Transport) and Charity Ngilu (Water and Irrigation).

Call for harmony

Ministers who sent apologies were George Saitoti, who is both the Internal Security minister, and also oversees the Foreign Affairs docket in an acting capacity.

Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o, who is indisposed, also sent an apology.

"I am not happy," Raila said at the function, also attended by Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, and Head of the Civil Service Francis Muthaura.

The PM said by being absent it meant the ministers and PSs do not take their work seriously.

He also urged harmony in ministries, adding there are no ODM or PNU ministers.

"All are ministers of Government," Raila said and urged them not to attack each other in public.

He said his office would steer recommendations by a panel of experts he had appointed on the performance contracting system, to be accepted by the Judiciary and Parliament.

The PM also criticised the Kenya National Union of Teachers for opposing performance contracts, yet the officials demand salary increment for teachers annually.

He said the salary increase does not discriminate teachers doing poorly or engaging in business.

He gave Kimunya’s Transport ministry a month to give him a detailed turnaround strategy on the performance of the port of Mombasa.

"Serious complaints on inefficiencies at the port of Mombasa continue to be lodged in my office. This cannot continue," he said.

He said a survey conducted in the past two weeks by the Performance Contracting Department in key public facilities gave a poor picture of the status of some public services, including rampant corruption.

Raila also directed the Ministry of Finance to review procurement regulations in a consultative process and in line with the new Constitution.

He argued current procurement regulations are an impediment to performance and Kenya’s development.