Siaya County public service officers are currently undergoing an intensive induction training programme at the Kenya School of Government, Learning and Development Division, Lower Kabete. The training that started on 2nd September 2024 is facilitated by Dr. Rachel Ngesa, the Director, Learning & Development at the KSG. Ending on Friday, September 6th 2024, the programme is designed to enable the officers gain the right knowledge and skills that would enable them to serve the public better. The induction is important for officers once appointed to a new position and useful for those already in post, to bring them up to date, with a more modern approach and thinking that is often prevalent in good governance.
Some of the topics undertaken in the induction programme revolves around the basic principles which form fundamentals of public administration. These include, appreciating government as an organisation, whereby one gains knowledge on its structure, functions, and general working. Another capacity building activity is designed to present the history of public service to the participants to help the understand the current situation in the Kenyan public service. The final major focus is corporate governance that deals with the standard of practices and policies on ethical conducts and responsive management in corporations.
Further, code of ethics for public service, doctrines and practice sessions keeps the officers on the right track of the integrity, transparency and accountability in performing their duties. The programme also looks into system and structure of accountability and control, internal and external, structures and frameworks of control and risk management. The most concern is made to the area of public procurement and assets disposal since these areas are central to the management of efficiency and accountability in the utilization of public resources.
Other areas that have been outlined include official communication in the public sector, as well as officers’ communication competence that enables interaction within governmental entities and the general population. Policy matters relating to human capital management, employee health and counselling services are also discussed as it expresses the need to pay attention to the health of its staff and providing them with social support to keep them motivated and productive.
Among the attendees are prominent leaders from Siaya County, including the Siaya County Public Service Board Chair Eng. Collins Gordon Juma, who graced the occasion on behalf of the Governor. Others present are Siaya County Secretary, Joseph Ogutu and Chief of Staff, Col. Cyrus Oguna among other public officers.
Their participation clearly demonstrates that the county is keen on practicing the best standards in performing its public service delivery function throughout learning and improvement. The induction programme must be regarded as significant in terms of enhancing the ability of public officers in Siaya County in order to improve on their delivery of services to the people and to support the development agenda in the county.