Kisumu:County civil service administrations must look beyond the simple relocation of administrative offices from Nairobi and aggressively champion the total transformation of governance, service delivery, and public labor productivity, stated Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o. Addressing county public service board delegates from across the republic in the lakeside city, Nyong’o urged the leadership of all 47 boards to ensure that future civil recruitments are anchored on strict merit, professionalism, and fairness. He warned that ambitious county budgets and local development plans cannot achieve meaningful transformation without a highly skilled and accountable workforce.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nyong’o emphasized that the success of devolution will be measured by the tangible difference citizens experience in their daily lives. He encouraged the delegates to use their convention breakout sessions to discuss and expand on the operational challenges limiting the potential of local governments. The governor highlighted the importance of rationalizing staffing slots and harmonizing cadre-based pay systems to achieve meaningful performance in devolution plans. His remarks were made during the official opening of the County Public Service Boards National Consultative Forum (CPSBs-NCF) 2026 Annual Convention, themed “Shifting from Paperwork to Productivity Linking Public Sector Promotions to Measurable Performance.”
The theme reflects a push for public sector reform, with participants drawn from all 47 counties. The German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) head of the performance unit, Ms. Teresa Catalano, representing development partners, advised that public sector improvement should begin with the daily management of human resources, rather than high-level policies. Catalano emphasized the importance of accurate job descriptions, transparent recruitment channels, and motivational rewards in achieving workforce excellence.
Catalano noted that the critical role of county public service boards has been neglected due to constraints such as funding and structural independence. She encouraged the 47 assembled boards to use the convention to initiate a new era of active collaboration with local executives, stating that exceptional civil service execution is already happening locally. Makueni and Kilifi counties were cited as examples of local excellence for their internal reward and sanction policies. Kisumu was praised for mainstreaming productivity into its daily operations.
Dr. Cecilia Chelang’at Ngetich, Chairperson of the CPSB National Consultative Forum, highlighted the convention’s focus on replacing conventional appraisal paperwork with digital performance tracking metrics. The three-day curriculum includes discussions on frontline service delivery, corporate governance, and performance metrics. The convention will conclude with the signing of intergovernmental compliance protocols with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Kisumu County Assembly Speaker pointed out that public service boards were created to insulate the civil workforce from politics. He raised concerns about rewarding campaign supporters without compromising meritocracy and challenged professionals to engage in political awareness. The speaker identified legislative gaps and urged the establishment of robust frameworks for local staff transfers and other employment matters. He called on the delegates to create long-term statutory templates to guide future leadership generations.
