President William Samoei Ruto on Tuesday November 19,2024 presided over the signing of Ministerial Performance Contracts for the Financial Year 2024/2025 at State House, Nairobi.
The ceremony underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to delivering on its promises and fulfilling the pillars of the Kenya Kwanza Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
The signing of these performance contracts is a key milestone in the administration’s efforts to establish a results-driven and transparent system of governance.
President Ruto and his deputy Kithure Kindiki emphasized the importance of the Constitution, which lays out a clear and elaborate framework for holding all individuals delegated with authority to account for their actions in serving the people of Kenya.
“Our Constitution creates an elaborate mechanism for accountability for all those who hold public office. It is this framework that we must strengthen to ensure that we deliver on the promises we made to the people,” said President Ruto.
The President highlighted that, to achieve the ambitious goals of the Kenya Kwanza Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, there must be alignment and coherence across all arms of government Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary along with all institutions that play a role in service delivery.
He further stressed that the performance contracts provide a formalized approach to hold Ministries, State Agencies, and Constitutional Commissions accountable for what they are tasked to deliver.
“Accountability demands clear channels of reporting,” President Ruto remarked.
“Each Ministry, State Agency, and Constitutional Commission must be able to report on what they set out to achieve, what they have accomplished, and where there is room for improvement.”
The performance contracts signed on Tuesday morning by various ministries outline the specific commitments of each ministry and agency, setting measurable targets that will be closely monitored throughout the fiscal year.
These contracts are intended not only as tools for assessing performance but also as a means of ensuring that all public servants remain focused on achieving the overarching goal of equitable and inclusive development.
The President emphasized that the government must work harder, faster, and more efficiently to fulfill these commitments, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation, where there is a pressing need for accelerated progress.
He reiterated that the collective goal is to build a more harmonious, cohesive, and equitably developed nation, with a focus on uplifting the lives of all Kenyans, especially those in marginalized communities.
The signing ceremony was attended by all Cabinet Secretaries (CS), who were called upon to demonstrate leadership in ensuring that the targets set out in their respective ministries’ performance contracts are met.
In his address, President Ruto reminded the ministers that their success would be measured not just by the policies they introduce but by the tangible results delivered to the people of Kenya.
“The people of Kenya have entrusted us with their hopes and dreams for a better future,” the President said. “It is through hard work, accountability, and commitment to service that we will achieve these aspirations.”
Following the signing, each ministry and agency will be required to submit regular reports on their progress, which will be carefully reviewed to ensure that the government is on track to meet its ambitious development goals.
The performance contracts will be a critical tool in evaluating not only the success of individual ministries but also the overall effectiveness of the administration’s governance strategy.
As the signing ceremony concluded, President Ruto urged all government officials to remain focused on the bigger picture of transforming Kenya into a prosperous and sustainable nation.
“Our work has only just begun. The next 12 months will be critical in realizing the vision of a more prosperous and inclusive Kenya. We must all redouble our efforts and ensure that we deliver on the expectations of the people we serve,” he said.
The signing of the Ministerial Performance Contracts marks a critical phase in the implementation of the Kenya Kwanza government’s transformative agenda, which aims to bring about lasting change for all Kenyans, creating opportunities for growth, development, and prosperity across the country.
