Sensitisation On Productivity For County Governments

By Brenda Chang’ach

In a rapidly evolving public service landscape, the effectiveness of county governments in Kenya increasingly hinges on their ability to optimise productivity, not merely grow in size.

Recognising this, a meeting held on 9 September 2026 in Naivasha, became a pivotal platform where executives from the County Public Service Boards – National Consultative Forum (CPSB-NCF) were sensitised by SRC on the value and practices of productivity management.

This forum, which was attended by Sammy Chepkwony, SRC Chairperson, was convened against the backdrop of the Public Sector Performance Contracting framework, where productivity has become a core performance indicator.

SRC and the National Productivity and Competitiveness Centre (NPCC) has been spearheading this transformation, pushing for an institutional shift in how public service output is measured, rewarded, and sustained.

The meeting sought to deepen the understanding and commitment of CPSB-NCF, the custodians of public service hiring, evaluation, and discipline in counties, on productivity, as not only a financial measure, but a cultural one.

These boards often operate at the frontline of service delivery, making them key to translating national-level productivity frameworks into local-level action. One of the central sessions involved unpacking SRC’s ‘Framework for Recognising Productivity and Performance in the Public Service’, which was launched in April 2023.

The Framework provides a formal mechanism through which county institutions link financial rewards to measurable performance.

Beyond incentives, the sensitisation also focused on introducing CPSB-NCF members to productivity diagnostics, data collection methodologies, and how to contextualise productivity metrics in county environments.

Through peer learning, scenarios, and case studies, the participants explored how to tailor productivity interventions to their contexts. The discussions highlighted the need for the CPSB-NCF team to internalise productivity measurement tools.

The meeting noted that productivity should not be siloed. County boards were encouraged to integrate productivity goals into performance contracts, annual planning, and budget processes. This would require collaboration across county departments, human resource offices, and line ministries to ensure synergy between productivity targets and service delivery priorities.

Importantly, the forum also created space for reflection and accountability. Participants discussed how CPSB-NCF could play the role of tracking productivity indices, identifying bottlenecks, and recognising or rewarding high-performing teams. By embedding productivity champions within each county, the boards can ensure continuity, even as personnel change or political cycles shift.

Beyond training, the engagement emphasised the need for dialogue and collaboration between CPSB-NCF, NPCC and SRC. The leadership affirmed that improving how counties operate has a ripple effect on Kenya’s overall economic efficiency, service delivery, and fiscal sustainability.

The forum presented an opportunity for county boards to lead, innovate, and own the productivity agenda, sending a signal that productivity is not confined to national institutions, but is also embraced at the county level.