There's no room for excuse - Ruto warns CSs

President William Ruto has warned his Cabinet Secretaries to personally account for their duties as there is no tolerance for underperformance.

The president delivered the message during a contract signing ceremony at State House on Tuesday. He says that personal accountability would be paramount, leaving no latitude for excuses or shortcomings in service delivery. The performance contracts, as outlined by the President, serve as detailed action plans designed to ensure precise and efficient implementation of government initiatives. Each Cabinet Secretary will be evaluated at the conclusion of the 2025/26 fiscal year through comprehensive performance scorecards.

These assessments will carry meaningful consequences, with a clear system of rewards for excellence and sanctions for underperformance. In his address, President Ruto stresses that performance contracting should elevate engagement and motivation within public service. He articulates an expectation for continuous improvement in governmental responsiveness and efficiency, both at individual and collective levels. To support these objectives, the national treasury has been directed to ensure timely disbursement of budgetary allocations, eliminating potential funding delays as a justification for service delivery failures.

A significant institutional development announced during the ceremony is the establishment of a dedicated Performance and Delivery Management office within the Executive Office of the President. This new entity will provide support to ministries and departments to facilitate swift identification and resolution of performance issues while overseeing the implementation of corrective measures. The President emphasizes that accountability measures would cascade through all levels of government, from ministries and departments to individual officers. This comprehensive approach aims to foster a culture of excellence and responsibility throughout the public service sector.

"To strengthen coordination, I have also established an office to focus on Performance and Delivery Management in the Executive Office of the President. Through this office, all ministries and departments will be facilitated to quickly address performance deficiencies and oversee the timely implementation of corrective measures," says Ruto.

On Sunday, Ruto attended Mass at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi where he outlined his administration's key initiatives. Accompanied by Governor Johnson Sakaja and MP Kimani Ichung'wah, Ruto announced a Sh1 billion education fund for Nairobi, with Sh18 million allocated to each MP for classroom construction. The President revealed plans for new educational facilities in Jacaranda, including nursery, secondary, and potentially a TVET institution. He also addressed infrastructure development, promising to repair Nairobi's road network before Christmas, particularly in Eastlands.

The improvements will be overseen by Kenya Urban Roads Authority officials. Ruto further discussed water management strategies, emphasizing better utilization of Ndakaini Dam to ensure consistent supply to the capital. He concluded by announcing ambitious plans to create 50,000 jobs through housing projects by year's end, reaffirming his commitment to the Bottom-up economic transformation agenda.