GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 2274

PURSUANT to section 59 sub-section 1 (f) of the County Government Act 2012, the functions and powers of the County Public Service Board inter alia, is to evaluate and report to the County Assembly each December on the extent to which the values and principles referred to in Article 10 and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 are complied with in the county public service. Further, section 59 sub-section 5 of the County Governments Act, 2012 states that the report prepared shall include— (a) all the steps taken and decisions made by the Board in the realization of values and principles; (b) specific recommendations that require to be implemented in the promotion and protection of the values and principles; (c) specific decisions on particulars of persons or public body who have violated the values and principles, including actions taken or recommendations against them; (d) any impediment in the promotion of the values and principles; and (e) the programmes the Board is undertaking or has planned to undertake in the medium-term towards the promotion of the values and principles. 2.0 Scope of the Report: This report covers the extent to which the values and principles as enshrined in Article 10 and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 were embedded in Board decisions and policies with a view of translating these values into practice. 3.0 Measures/Steps Taken in the Realization of National Values and Principles of Public Service. During the year under review, the Board undertook the following measures to realize the national values and principles of public service: (a) The CPSB in liaison with the Training Committee undertook on-job training for Security and Enforcement Officers at The Prisons Staff Training College- Ruiru in March/April 2016. (b) In an endeavor to uphold transparency and accountability, job advertisements were carried in daily newspapers with nationwide circulation and notices through the Sub-County and Ward Levels to widen reach to the grassroots. Applications were done online with an exception of positions that targeted local community organizations in which hard copy applications were accepted. (c) On accountability for administrative acts, the CPSB issued advisories to the executive on the following issues: Pension administration for staff, acting appointment, payment of approved extraneous allowance, temporary staff wages and implementation of requirements on registers of conflict of interests and gifts. The executive was also encouraged to adhere to circulars from constitutional commissions. (d) Members of the Board, in the course of their duties, encountered instances where conflict of interest would have arisen and such interests were declared to avoid conflict in discharge of their duties. (e) During the year under review, the Board undertook departmental sensitization sessions with all staff on the Code of Conduct and Ethics. New employees were equally sensitized on the values and principles as enshrined in articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. (f) Continuous Professional Development was undertaken by all board members through participation in Workshops/seminars/courses in various professional bodies and institutions e.g. institute of Human Resource Management, Kenya School of Government, ESAMI and Advantage Training. The trainings focused on Governance, Leadership and Industrial Relations. Applications by county officers for professional courses were approved in line with public service provisions for training and study leave. (g) The recruitment process as undertaken by the Board affords equal opportunity to all and encourages women, youth, persons with disabilities and the marginalized to apply; affirmative action was applied to ensure inclusion. A total of two hundred and twenty two (222) employees were recruited during the period under review: One hundred and fifty six (156) male – 70.3% and sixty six (66) females – 29.7%. The recruitment was based on skill gaps in various departments. Through affirmative action the Board recruited three (3) persons with disabilities and one (1) person from the Ogiek Community. 4.0 Specific Decisions on Particulars of Persons or Public Body that have Violated the Values and Principles, including Action Taken or Recommended Against Them: Name Violation Value/Principle Violated Action Taken/ Recommendation Administrative Officer Falsification of documents Integrity, Transparency and Accountability Dismissal from service Customer Care Assistant Falsification of documents Integrity, Transparency and Accountability Dismissal from service Plant Operator Theft by servant Efficient, Effective and Economic use of Resources Dismissal from service Driver Theft by servant Efficient, Effective and Economic use of Resources Dismissal from service Pharmaceutical Technologist Falsification of documents Integrity, Transparency and Accountability Dismissal from service 5.0 Impediments in the Promotion of the Values and Principles: In the course of promoting the values and principles referred to in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 Article 10 and 232, The CPSB encountered the following challenges: (a) There was lack of support from all stakeholders. (b) Apathy on the side of public officers and the general public arising from national issues that project corruption as a way of life. (c) Lack of co-operation from controlling officer who are expected to report cases of violation of values and principles by staff under them. (d) Intense lobbying by the public in relation to recruitment. This creates a culture of extortion by fraudsters who take advantage of the situation. (e) Lack of co-operation from complainants (the public) in providing conclusive evidence for prosecution of cases relating to extortion/bribery. (f) The marginalized and persons with disabilities seem to shy-off from competitive recruitment hence difficulty in attaining inclusion in the county public service. (g) Insufficient budgetary allocation for programs on protection and promotion of values and principles. 6.0 Specific Recommendations and Programmes the Board is Undertaking or has Planned to Undertake in the Medium-Term towards the Protection and Promotion of the Values and Principles: (a) Delegation of specific roles in promotion of values and principles to chief officers with a requirement to submit a quarterly report to the Board. (b) Providing regular advisories to the County Executive Committee on aspects of human resource management and development that enhance the practice of good governance. (c) Identification and training of departmental champions on values of principles. (d) Provide alternative communication channels for purposes of receiving feedback from staff and the public on violation of values and principles. (e) Enhance collaboration with Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on protection of values and principles. (f) Carry out a baseline survey on values and principles. (g) Continuous collaboration with the National Council of Persons with Disabilities to sensitize their members on the mandate of the Board and demystify the recruitment process and requirements for inclusion in the public service. Dated 23rd December, 2016. ANNE J. KOECH, MR/2694875 Ag. Secretary, Uasin Gishu CPSB.