Training programme on mainstreaming productivity in the public service By Stephen Oinga

The National Productivity and Competitiveness Centre (NPCC), in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, facilitated a training programme to mainstream productivity in various public service institutions.

This programme was undertaken to cultivate a culture of productivity and has been set as a performance target for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across the country.

This initiative aligns with the objectives of the 20th cycle of the public sector Performance Contracting (PC) for the 2023/24 financial year.

In this regard, representatives from SRC, alongside other participants from various MDAs, trained different public institutions from 20 November to 8 December 2023. The sessions took place in Bungoma, Siaya, Mombasa, Migori, Homabay, Kisumu, Vihiga, Nyeri, and Kiambu.

During the official opening of the training for the lower central region at Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Dr. Idris Salim Dokota, the Principal Secretary in the Cabinet Office, emphasised the significance of the training.

He stated that the trainings will enhance productivity within the public service and contribute to the desired levels of economic growth with minimal inputs.

On his part Christopher Tialal, Deputy Director, Productivity and Performance at SRC, highlighted the challenge posed by the ballooning wage bill, which currently stands at 46 per cent of the ordinary revenue, exceeding the recommended 35 per cent, putting pressure on government expenditure.

He emphasised that the training is a critical component of the public service reforms, which aims to improve operational and labour efficiency, as well as customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, Mr. Tialal stressed that the government was implementing measures to address the wage bill challenge, with productivity enhancement in the public service as one of them.

Mr. Tialal also referred to the Kenya Vision 2030, which recognises the potential of the Kenyan people. He noted the importance of their creativity, work ethic, education, entrepreneurial skills, and other abilities in driving the country’s development.

The training served as a crucial step towards achieving the pressing need to prioritise productivity goals in the public service, and align with the government’s effort to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the public service.