PSC lobbies for increased budgetary allocation

Public Service Commission Chairman Stephen Kirogo.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is lobbying Parliament for increased budgetary allocation to enable it discharge its mandate more effectively.

Commission Chairman Stephen Kirogo said with the expanded mandate and introduction of new departments, more funds are needed to meet the new demands and also provide improved services to the public.

''We seek the support of the National Assembly for more funding to enable us discharge our mandate more effectively,'' said Mr Kirogo.

Mr Kirogo was speaking in Mombasa during a two-day Strategic Workshop for Public Service Commission with Members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security at the PrideInn Paradise Beach Resort, Convention Centre & Spa.

He said the sh1.18 billion allocated to the commission in the 2018/2019 Financial Year was not sufficient for implementation of the commission’s planned programmes and activities including automation of key services.

‘‘There is a need to explore other avenues of financing our programmes and also come up with innovative ways of delivering quality services with the resources available,’’ said the PSC boss.

He said the commission has embarked on improvement of service delivery to the citizens and that a series of consultative meetings with key stakeholders have taken place to discuss pensions and human resource management.

Mr Kirogo said the workshop should reflect and find solutions on fundamental issues like succession management, performance management and productivity in the service and improvement in service delivery.

Other important areas he mentioned are leveraging on ICT to improve performance and changing the culture of service to be value based, ethical and citizen-focused.

He said the commission will need the support of Parliament to change its mode of job advertisements from print media to other form of mass media with wider coverage.

‘’We need to engage FM Radio and Vernacular stations, churches, mosques and other public forums to ensure no Kenyan is left out in job opportunities,’’ added Mr Kirogo.

The Parliamentary Administration and National Security Committee chairman, Mr Paul Koinange said his committee will closely work with the commission and lobby for more funds for its budgetary allocation to discharge its mandate effectively and achieve its transformative agenda.

‘The commission needs to be adequately funded as it plays an important role in every sector of the government,’ said Koinange.

He however, challenged the commission to fight corruption and other vices within the civil service which he said is rampant and involves both junior and senior staff.

Koinange also opposed the hiring of consultants by the government whose skills are readily available from civil servants.

‘’Why should a Cabinet Secretary or Principal Secretary hire a communication consultant while we have communication officers in each Ministry, said the Kiambaa MP.

His sentiments were supported by Mr Kirogo who said the law must strictly followed follow in the hiring of consultants saying this should be done only on specific skills that are not available within the mainstream civil service.