Efficient public service delivery for investment
Public service is the world’s largest service provider. Any enhancement of public service delivery impacts the lives of millions of people. Like any other service provider, understanding customer needs should be the core of service delivery.
A drive for competitiveness is central to investment attraction. Public service efficiency is at the heart of competitiveness as it influences the cost of doing business in a country.
Government efficiency can be enhanced by modernising public service delivery capabilities and incorporating feedback from the business community and public. An integrated and connected government will unlock the effectiveness and efficiency of public service.
In order to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic product to 15 per cent with the entire economy growing simultaneously, we need ensure sustainable economic growth over several years. Whilst it is not inconceivable to want to grow the industry at this rate, it means a recalibration of business-as-usual and a deliberate campaign to foster political will, as well as cohesion among policy-making agencies and institutions of government towards this goal.
Good governance is the most critical aspect of public service delivery. One function of good governance is to ensure that that entities in the public service act in the best interest of the public at all times. This entails a strong commitment to integrity, ethical values, rule of law, transparency and comprehensive public participation with clear reasoning for decisions made in order to demonstrate that the results will be in the public’s best interest. Public participation is at the heart of public service delivery and should be structured in such a way that it is responsive to the citizen’s needs.
The current budget deficit quagmire that the country finds itself is an indicator of a huge disconnect in the public service delivery system. Taxation policies should be developed with an aim to nurture and grow local business, to create shared value and consequently enable the Government to effectively deliver public service.
However, as it stands, the tax base has not been widened to increase the revenue collection bracket for government. Rather what happens routinely is the continued over-taxation of few companies that have formalised, leaving out a huge informal sector with the potential to bring in the desired revenues for growth.
I must add, it is not that companies in the informal sector do not want to formalise, but that existing conditions for formalisation are presently not accommodating to small businesses yet to break even or take shape. Making the conditions for formalisation nurturing and conducive is also a critical function of a fit-for-purpose public service; to create an environment that makes them productive enough to be able to formalise. Subsequently they too shall be able to pay tax and contribute towards reducing the country’s budget deficit.
Even those that are formalised and paying their taxes are not incentivised to expand their business operations and are uncertain about future prospects of operating in Kenya. Many are frustrated by unfavourable and complex regulations that are a symptom of a disarticulation between our country’s ambitious economic goals and the execution of policies that seem to drive us in the opposite direction.
Duplication of institutions is a big challenge in public service with a huge impact of cost and ease of doing business. A fit for purpose public service must deliver better regulation to reduce the cost and administrative burden on business. Long term thinking in policy development enables businesses to plan for the long term and makes for an attractive investment destination.
Public service must also provide value for money and ensure prudent utilisation of citizen’s resources. One way to achieve this is through collaborative partnerships and shared services.
Connectedness of public service is critical in driving a common vision or purpose. A connected giovernment is not just about Government restructuring. It calls for implementation of a common vision supported by integrated objectives, outcomes, information and process flow.
—The writer is the Chief Executive of Kenya Association of Manufacturers —[email protected]
