GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 11330

under the UHC programme. The personnel were deployed to various health facilities within Kitui County thus improving the citizens' access to timely and affordable healthcare. Improvement in service delivery within the health sector has been witnessed especially during the current Covid 19 pandemic. The County is mainstreaming HIV/AIDS, gender and disability in implementing various policies as can be reflected in the segmentation of County contracts and also in appointments. The County Government is working with development partners and faith based organizations such as Centre for Health Solutions and Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) to address HIV/AIDS among other health care issues. The County Government has continued to prioritise projects on water such as roof water harvesting systems, drilling of bore holes, construction/De- silting of earth and sand dams as well as water reservoirs to ensure that County residents, especially those in arid and marginalised regions, have access to portable water for drinking and other purposes. (c) Good Governance, Integrity, Transparency and Accountability Situational Analysis County Ministries/Departments have developed service charters in both English and Kiswahili versions. The mechanisms for monitoring integrity, transparency and accountability in the County public service are in place. Action Taken The Board has advised on the need to implement the service charters fully. The complaints handling procedure has been streamlined in the County Government and employees have been sensitised on complaints handling. In order to enhance transparency and accountability, each project goes through the process of public participation to ensure involvement of the people in development issues. (d) Sustainable Development Situational Analysis Kitui County Integrated Development Plan (KCIDP), which highlights the development needs of the County, has continuously guided the County development projects. The development projects contained in this document have been evaluated based on their sustainability. As a result, the projects initiated are considered viable and sustainable. Action Taken The County Government continues to implement projects in compliance with the KCIDP which is modelled on the Kenya Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. The County Public Service Board has successfully continued to provide the human resource necessary for the implementation of planned activities. Food and water, health, education, youth and women empowerment and wealth creation are the five pillars of H.E the Governor's manifesto meant to not only spur the growth of the County economy but also improve the citizens' livelihoods. The County Government has established Kitui County Textile Centre (KICOTEC); the first ever garment factory by a County Government in Kenya. The facility has employed over 300 youths from the County. The factory targets income from local and national productions that will play a key role in boosting the economy. The gains from KICOTEC will support other services of the county like provision of clean water, affordable healthcare and education. Owing to the success of the pilot KICOTEC factory, the County Government is in the process of establishing two more branches. The County Government is in the process of establishing a tannery and a brick and cabro floor tiles manufacturing factories to help realize H.E the Governor's manifesto pillar on youth and women empowerment as well as wealth creation. The County Government organised an exhibition to show case all the products from Government supported institutions in Kitui County to boost marketing for sustainability purposes. 1.2 Article 232: Values and Principles of Public Service (a) High Standards of Professional Ethics Situational Analysis Standards of professional ethics were evaluated on the basis of code of conduct and ethics for officers in the public service; training for skills development; membership to professional bodies and declaration of income, assets and liabilities. There was moderate compliance with professional ethics following continuous sensitization workshops and training. Action Taken Sensitisation programmes on values and principles aimed at creating awareness, development of teamwork, improvement of service delivery and overall culture change in the county public service were undertaken. To increase access to knowledge on the officers' professionalism, the Board has been drawing the attention of the County Government employees to the relevant legislations and laws which have been uploaded to the county website. (b) Responsive, Prompt, Effective, Impartial and Equitable Provision of Services Situation Analysis The Board established that service delivery had not reached satisfactory standards as a result of slow integration of officers having been drawn from diverse organizational culture and work ethics. Action taken The Board has been undertaking sensitization workshops on values and principles of public service aimed at transformative leadership, development of teamwork and improvement of service delivery and overall culture change in the public service. County Ministries/Departments have been encouraged to hold regular management and staff meetings to enhance effectiveness and teamwork in the provision of public services. The County Government has continued the use of Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), where all financial transactions are processed using the system. This has enhanced the speed of service delivery. The Board undertakes mystery shopping to assess the quality of services offered in the County public service. CHAPTER TWO—IMPEDIMENTS IN THE PROMOTION OF VALUES AND PRINCIPLES The Board encountered various challenges in ensuring that values and principles were upheld. These included — (a) Kitui County has low Internet connectivity, making the officers especially those working outside the County 31st December, 2020 THE KENYA GAZEr1 b 5241 Headquarters unable to effectively communicate and access internet; (b) insufficient public awareness on the role of citizens in governance and therefore low citizen participation in development issues; (c) inadequate knowledge on the constitutional provisions on devolution and other relevant legislations among public officers; (d) inadequate budgetary allocation to enhance the promotion of values and principles; (e) frequent power outages within the County; (f) officers from outside the County requesting for inter-county transfers and declining positions in Kitui owing to the vastness of the county, semi-arid climate, insecurity, the difficult terrain thus defeating efforts towards patriotism, national unity and inclusiveness; and (g) persons with disabilities and other special groups not applying for positions in the County while those that apply fail to indicate their status. Many officers and candidates with disabilities are yet to register with the relevant body. CHAPTER THREE—PLANNED PROGRAMS IN UNDERTAKING PROMOTION OF VALUES AND PRINCIPLES 1. Develop, produce and distribute more information, education and communication material on values and principles in Kitui County. 2. Sensitization workshops on values and principles. 3. Induct new staff with regard to values and principles. 4. Monitor compliance with the values and principles. 5. Advise the County Government on its obligations under international treaties and conventions on need basis. 6. Recruit the required personnel for the full implementation of KCIDP. 7. Advocate and lead in the finalization of staff establishment to ensure that any recruitment is within optimal staffing level. CHAPTER FOUR—RECOMMENDATIONS The Board recommendations are as follows— (a) partnering with the County Assembly for public awareness creation on the role of citizens in governance and the need for full participation in development agenda and activities and employment creation; (b) facilitation in creation of an enabling environment for the exploitation of natural resources to create jobs for Kitui County residents; (c) observation of OSHA guidelines in public offices; (d) provision of adequate budgetary allocation to carry out activities that enhance promotion of values and principles in the County public service; (e) establishing points for public services at Huduma Centre; (1) establishment of Public Service Centres at every Sub County headquarter; and (g) decentralization of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities offices for easy access of its services. Conclusion The County public service registered substantial levels of compliance with the values and principles referred to in Articles 10 and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. However, there is still room for improvement in order to ensure that citizens of Kitui County fully benefit from the gains envisaged by the Constitution of Kenya 2010. The Board appreciates the cooperation accorded by the office of the Governor, the office of the County Secretary, County Ministries/Departments and Sub County Administration during evaluation of the extent to which values and principles have been complied with in Kitui County public service. Further, the Board appreciates she members of the Kitui County Assembly for the oversight role and Ch.* per;oldic advisories towards ensuring compliance with the values and pri..eiples JAPHETH M. MUTHENGI, MR/1435714 Secretary, County Public Service Board.