Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairperson Francis Meja has called on heads of state agencies to ensure strict compliance with laws, policies, and guidelines governing human resource management and disciplinary control in Kenya. This appeal was made during the opening session of a capacity-building workshop for state corporations and public universities on human resource matters arising from disciplinary control, held at the Kenya School of Government in Mombasa.
Meja expressed concern over the increasing number of disciplinary appeals reaching the Commission for consideration, which he attributed to non-compliance with the requisite instruments. He emphasized that when technical officers and Boards or Councils exercise due diligence on disciplinary matters, fewer appeals and court cases follow. According to Meja, this not only benefits the government but also individual officers.
The workshop, hosted by the Commission, brought together chairpersons and chief executive officers of state corporations and council members and vice chancellors of public universities. The attendees were urged to ensure that disciplinary processes are handled fairly and transparently to avoid erosion of trust, demotivation of staff, and lowered quality of services delivered to Kenyans.
Meja warned that non-compliance following successful appeals exposes institutions to avoidable financial costs and personal liability for responsible officers whenever the matters are escalated to courts of law. He stressed that unfair or poorly handled disciplinary processes have negative consequences on the overall performance of the institutions and the country as a whole.
Also present at the workshop were commissioners Joan Machayo and Boya Molu, Commission Secretary/CEO Paul Famba, and Deputy Commission Secretary in charge of legal services Jacqueline Manani. The PSC Chairperson's call for compliance with HR instruments is seen as a move to enhance governance and management of state agencies and public universities in Kenya.
The capacity-building workshop aimed to equip the participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle disciplinary matters effectively and efficiently. Meja's address emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability in the management of human resources in state agencies and public universities.
The PSC Chairperson's appeal is expected to have a positive impact on the management of human resources in state agencies and public universities, leading to improved governance and service delivery in Kenya. The Commission's efforts to enhance compliance with HR instruments are seen as a step towards promoting a culture of accountability and transparency in the public sector.
Key points
- PSC Chairperson Francis Meja urges state agencies to comply with human resource management laws and guidelines to reduce disciplinary appeals and court cases.
