Waiguru puts on notice staff sleeping on the job
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has instituted radical reforms, aimed at streamlining operations and enhancing service delivery by the County Executive.
This follows reports and assessments, which revealed some staff members are not transparent in their operations.
The governor had engaged in a week-long service delivery assessment and consultation with various stakeholders, at the grassroots, where she identified gaps that needed immediate interventions by the Executive.
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“It is not going to be business as usual as I am making major reorganisation in the Executive, to ensure that services are delivered as per the expected standards.
This is a warning to officers who are used to operating in an opaque manner, that their time is up,” warned the governor.
The reforms mainly target the Finance, Health and Water departments, with reports indicating the reorganisation may see a few heads roll, as the governor gears up to enhance service delivery, before the 2022 election campaign season kicks off.
Full compliance
In a move that has sent shivers down the spine of officials, who were used to operating in a complacent manner, the governor has set up two new units within the Finance department.
A Tax Compliant Unit was formed to ensure full compliance with tax laws as well as timely submission of statutory deductions.
The governor also formed a Quality Review and Assurance Unit that will ensure the procurement department is fully compliant with the laid down regulations including proper documentation.
“I have given the Finance department up to the end of October to stop manual collection of revenue,” she said.
Phase one of the Revenue Management System is already running, covering single business permits, general billing, periodic billing, liquor module, advertisements module and self-help groups module. She said phase two is undergoing user acceptance and testing before it is put up for use.
While reading the Riot Act to the county’s heads of department, Waiguru said the Executive had no room for non-performers and each officer must be fully accountable.
The Health department was also given up to mid-November to fully automate its operations, with all doctors, nurses and pharmacy staff expected to use the Hospital Management and Information System (HMIS), that stores all data in one platform that is accessible to various departments.
The system will get rid of delays caused by manual files movement from department to department thereby improving efficiency in health service delivery.
The HMIS will also provide a trail on how hospital supplies such as medicine are received and consumed, hence reducing losses and ensuring the hospital’s pharmacy is replenished accordingly.
“I have also directed the Water department to ensure that provision of water is streamlined, to enhance access by traders in various markets and residential areas, starting with immediate restoration of supply in Kutus market and Old Town,” said the governor.
Kutus residents confirmed that water had been reconnected and they are enjoying the supply throughout the week as opposed to previously, when they could only get water once or twice a week.
“The reforms will not only lead to efficient and effective service delivery but will ensure full compliance with regulations while enhancing accountability and transparency in the various sectors,” Waiguru said.
The governor, who has been in office for three years, has seen her administration deliver remarkable development milestones in various sectors.
Her ground-breaking mass egg production project that involves collection of a million eggs per month by community groups, is progressing well.
The 32 community groups rearing about 40,000 layers are guaranteed of their returns since the county markets the eggs on their behalf.
The second phase of the project that is implemented through Wezesha Kirinyaga Economic Development Programme has kicked off, with 45 more groups enlisted.
The governor says the expansion targets production of more than five million eggs per month before 2022.
“The eggs have a ready market and come in to fill the huge local egg production deficit which has forced the country to import more than 10 million eggs a month from Uganda,” said that governor, noting that the project was informed by the deficit.
Waiguru’s administration has also seen major transformation in the health sector which include upgrading of health facilities, construction of maternity wards and completion of a modern five-storey medical complex that will upgrade Kerugoya Level Four Hospital to a Level Five Hospital.
The 250-bed capacity state-of-the-art facility will provide critical services.
The county government has also constructed 11 modern markets ensuring that traders, most of who deal in fresh agricultural produce, have a conducive trading environment.
Waiguru said she was grateful that the county government and the county assembly, have now come together to accelerate delivery of their promises to Kirinyaga residents.
