Uasin Gishu County commissioner Mr Abdi Hassan has called on public servants in the county to mainstream integrity and anti-corruption ideals in all their activities.
Hassan told heads of government departments to establish, as a matter of urgency, mechanisms of managing public feedback on service delivery by setting up suggestion boxes, short text message numbers (SMS) or email addresses.
Speaking in his office on Friday after receiving a report by the Anti-corruption subcommittee for the national government Service Delivery committee, the county commissioner thanked members for their contributions and challenged them to remain focused and committed to the fight against graft in public offices.
Hassan said it was the right of every Kenyan to get good services from public servants adding that the fight against corruption was both an individual and collective responsibility.
“It is important that we all adhere to our National values and espouse the tenets and principles of good governance,” said Hassan.
The sub-committee has recommended a raft of measures, which if implemented will help reduce incidents of graft in public offices and restore public confidence in service delivery by public servants.
The subcommittee’s chair – who is also the county Director of Meteorological Services, Mr Ali Ramtu said Uasin Gishu was rated poorly in the corruption index in the last survey by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC).
“It is this corruption report and the presidential executive order No. 6 that informed the county commissioner to appoint the subcommittee,” said Ramtu.
The subcommittee is mandated to among others, carry out risk assessment by identifying organisational systems, procedures and operations that are most vulnerable to corruption, develop and implement county corruption prevention plans and coordinate and oversee the implementation of corruption prevention programs.
Others are to coordinate anti-corruption education and awareness programmes and manage county feedback mechanisms.
The county commissioner called on public servants to demonstrate respect for the people that they serve, noting that they are servants and not masters over them.
“Work to ensure that you promote public confidence in the integrity of your offices and exercise objectivity and impartiality in your decision making,” Hassan said.
“Do not be guided by nepotism, favouritism, other improper motives or corrupt practices in your service delivery to the public,” he added.
The subcommittee has recommended that all government departments display their service charters prominently, showing types of services offered, timeframe and levies charged and the display of an anti-corruption signpost at the entrance of the county commissioner’s offices.
The subcommittee also wants aggressive sensitisation programmes for public servants, including training for members of the subcommittee by the EACC for them to manage effectively their assignments.