How Raila plans to save crippling public service
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga yesterday outlined his vision to revolutionise the civil service as the foundation of nation building and development.
Raila, who seems to have revived his bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta next year, gave a highlight of what he believes the country needs to do to modernise the public sector.
Taking to his social media pages; Facebook and Twitter in what appears to be his new strategy to communicate his ideas of the Kenya he envisions under his tenure, the former premier noted nations begin to fail when the civil service begins to fail.
Raila said he envisages a civil service defined by discipline, hard work, high morale, efficiency and high ethical standards.
According to the former premier, this will be achieved by promoting creativity in the civil service at the same time eliminating conflict of interest which is the main cause of corruption, public mistrust, poor and delayed services that have come to be associated with public sector.
Mere hostages
“Kenya has maintained a comparatively functional civil service. But there remains tremendous room for improvement,” Raila said adding that nepotism, tribalism and favouritism in the civil service need to be nipped in the bud.
“These three ills have demoralised so many officers, who then become mere hostages to a system they believe does not appreciate them,” Raila said adding: “Frustrated officers stay on just to secure pension and turn to other ways to supplement income and get fulfillment.
They become brokers where they are supposed to be moderators,” he said.
Raila’s latest statement comes barely a fortnight after he unveiled an economic blueprint to transform rural economies.
Barely a week ago, Raila released snippets of his 2022 blueprint that will anchor his presidential run.
Although he has not stated publicly that he will seek the top seat, Raila has embarked on key activities including consolidating his traditional support bases, leaving no doubt that he will vie.
Raila’s men have also made it clear that their leader will go for the top seat.
If given the nod by Kenyans to ascend to presidency next year, the African Union special envoy stated that he will design and adhere to a clear career progression path for civil servants that stands no matter which party or leader takes power in Kenya.
“It’s possible to run a civil service that thrives on seniority and merit-based promotions,” he said.
The ODM leader cited conflict of interest in the civil service as the main cause of corruption, public mistrust, poor and delayed services that have come to be associated with public sector.
“When government procurement officers are also suppliers, the consequences are obvious,” stated the ODM boss.
Citing his experience the world over, Raila said Kenya needs to promote creativity in the civil service as they tend to play safe, merely taking and implementing instructions.
“Kenya is not any different. We have to change this and institutionalise ways to enable civil servants who have different ideas on how to do better, bring their ideas to the table,” he held.
Strategic thinking.
Raila said he advocate for a total overhaul of public service and devise a way through which civil servants can be allowed to spend time in the private sector and return to public service.
According to him, such a system creates an understanding in the public service of how the private sector works and how the two sectors can complement each other.
“We must enhance the capacity of the civil service to engage in strategic thinking.
Many times, civil servants are caught in routine office work,” the former premier said.
He promised to create linkages between government and private sector, particularly the think tanks to enable civil servants pursue routine work and engage in strategic thinking at the same time.
