Accolades for JOOUST in the 19th cycle Performance Contracting evaluation and monitoring
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) performed exceedingly well in the 2022/2023 Performance Contract (PC) Year. The day-long evaluation exercise took place at the East Africa Community Integrated Institute board room (EACII).
Speaking during the Performance Contracting Evaluation exercise, Prof. Shem Wandiga, JOOUST Chair of Council, observed that the University was very keen to deliver on its mandate of teaching, research and community outreach. Also speaking during the opening ceremony, the Chair of the Technical, Academic, Research and Project Sub-committee of the Council, Mr. Isaac Chebon appreciated the display of teamwork and confidence by the JOOUST team noting that they were up to the task ahead.
The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Emily Achieng’ Akuno exuded confidence saying that the evidence presented to the Performance Contracting Evaluation Unit was sufficient to convince them about the work that was put in the process. The Performance Contract Unit undertaking the annual target moderation was led by Mr Peter Kariuki from the State Department of Performance and Delivery Management under the Ministry of Public Service and Delivery Management now housed under the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary. He was assisted by Ms Mary Okoroh from the Vision 2030 Secretariat. Mr. Kariuki noted that the team will rely on the evidence from the final Performance Contract, self-evaluation matrix documented evidence and scores for specialized agencies. He pointed out that certificates or evidence from collaborating institutions like the Commission for Administrative Justice (CAJ), the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, and the National Aids Control Council (NACC) would be used as part of the evaluation exercise. Kenyan universities submit various quarterly reports to those institutions on how well they are managing the various performance contract indicators.
Also present during the evaluation was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Planning, Administration and Finance (PAF) Prof. Aggrey Thuo and the Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academics, Student Affairs and Research, Prof. Dennis Ochuodho.
JOOUST was evaluated on key Indicators that included; Financial Stewardship, Service Delivery, increasing enrollment in STEM programmes, project completion rates, implementation of presidential directives, access to government procurement opportunities, road safety mainstreaming, corruption prevention, National Values and Principles of Governance among others.
Performance contracting in the government of Kenya is now in its 20th year of continuous implementation. Over time, the performance contract has evolved into a robust tool employed by the government for measuring the performance of ministries, departments and agencies. . The performance contracting exercise has also been critical in enabling the government to identify, collect, collate and analyse vital information connected with the performance of public agencies. The overall result is that government decision-making has become increasingly evidence-based, and public officers have become increasingly aware of their accountability for actions and omissions, achievements and mistakes.
The government through H.E President Dr William Samoei Ruto resolved to enhance the overall performance management framework and to leverage its tremendous potential by incorporating the actualization of the BETA plan the government performance contracting and delivery mechanism. Our objective is to achieve the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public services, ensure accountability in the utilization of public resources, improve the mechanisms of service delivery, re-align public agencies with their core mandates and accelerate the completion of programmes and projects.
The president reaffirmed his government’s resolve to implement its commitments, serve Kenyans and do so in a highly systematic manner. The 2023/24ministry, department and agency have aligned their programmes and policies with the Forth Medium-Term Plan, - of the Kenya National Vision 2030 - which now incorporates key government priorities under the 5 BETA pillars. It is now a fundamental duty of cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, chief executive officers of state corporations and the principals of tertiary education institutions, to implement obligations under their performance contracts by taking every measure to execute key government priorities on time, and within the allocated resources.
The performance contracts have been perfected through a rigorous process of vetting key priorities and ring-fencing their funding through the National Treasury.
