GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 714

under the County Government Act, 2012. I take this opportunity to thank the Executive for its continued support during this period. I also thank my Board members and the Acting Secretary/CEO of the Board and the Secretariat for their dedicated support in discharging our mandate. May God continue to bless you all. ISAIAH O. OKOTO, Chairman, County Public Service Board. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Annual Report 2024 has been prepared in line with our mandate and commitment to excellence in public service delivery. It reviews the Board’s key achievements, challenges, and forward- looking strategies as we strive to build a competent, inclusive, and values-driven workforce. It reflects our unwavering dedication to promoting diversity, upholding national values, and ensuring effective governance within the public service. By submitting this report to the County Assembly, we aim to provide a transparent account of our performance and invite continued collaboration to achieve our shared vision for the county's development. The Board has remained committed to quality, effective and efficient service delivery, maintained good relationship with all its customers, stakeholders and the public at large while discharging its key responsibilities. It upholds transparency, equity, and professionalism in delivering its mandate to support the county’s development objectives in overseeing the recruitment, promotion, discipline, enforcement of policies and regulations, training and development and welfare of public servants in the county. The Annual report summarizes the Board's dedication to excellence and its roadmap for enhancing public service in the county and outlines a comprehensive review of its operations, achievements, and challenges over the year. It highlights strides in recruitment and capacity building, as well as adherence to core values and principles of governance. Further, it emphasizes on compliance with disciplinary measures on upholding public service ethics and progress in promoting diversity by incorporating marginalized groups and persons with disabilities, albeit with room for improvement. The financial overview reflects prudent resource management, supporting strategic initiatives and operational goals. Looking ahead, the Board recommends targeted reforms to address challenges and foster innovation. I wish to acknowledge the cordial working relationship and support given to the Public Service Board of Homa Bay by the Executive and the County Assembly. Further, my appreciation goes to the Board members and the secretariat staff for their unmatched support towards service delivery to the public. RUTH ALOO, Ag. Secretary/CEO, County Public Service Board. 1.0. Introduction This Annual Report presents a comprehensive review of the activities, challenges, and achievements of the County Public Service Board (CPSB) in the year ending December 31, 2024. It aligns with the mandates stipulated in the County Government Act, 2012 and reaffirms our commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective public service. 1.1. Board Composition The CPSB is governed by a Board comprised of the following members: 1. Isaiah Okoto – Chairman 2. Sarah Waswa – Vice-Chairperson 3. Judith Ojwang – Board Member 4. Lawrence Oteng’ (Dr.) – Board Member 5. Thomas Chariga – Board Member 7:00 PM THE KENYA GAZETTE 24th January, 2025 186 186 Joseph Oreta – Board Member Ruth Aloo – Ag. CEO/Secretary 1.2. Board Committees The Board operates through four committees that perform the following functions: 1.2.1. Recruitment and Selection (a) Develop procedures and criteria for recruitment and selection. (b) Scrutinize and vet indents for advertisement. (c) Analyze reports on establishment and abolition of offices. (d) Develop a database and skills inventory. (e) Advise on salary structures and schemes of service. (f) Analyze performance appraisal reports. 1.2.2. Quality Assurance, Audit, and Compliance (a) Review disciplinary policies and procedure manuals. (b) Handle disciplinary cases involving county employees. (c) Promote ethical conduct and integrity within the public service. (d) Ensure adherence to the Public Officers Ethics Act. (e) Monitor compliance with laws and regulations. (f) Analyze proposals on promotions and terminations. 1.2.3. Finance and Administration (a) Oversee financial planning and budget implementation. (b) Manage administrative operations and resources. (c) Develop policies aligned with county and national legislation. (d) Evaluate the effectiveness of public service policies. 1.2.4. Welfare, Salaries, and Benefits (a) Address employee welfare and work-life balance issues. (b) Promote harmonious labor relations. (c) Engage with unions and stakeholders on workforce matters. (d) Foster transparency through communication. 1.2.5. Capability, Capacity Building, and ICT (a) Identify skill gaps and recommend training programs. (b) Promote leadership training and mentorship. (c) Oversee the digitization of county processes. (d) Develop policies to protect ICT systems from cyber threats. 2.0. Key Achievements in 2024 The CPSB made the following achievements during the year under review: 2.1. Appointments A total of twenty-three (23) officers were appointed to various positions in the County Public Service. The appointments were as follows— (a) Irene Adhiambo Adika, Senior Asst. Director Human Resource Management and Development. (b) Elly Otieno Nyiero, Chief Officer Youths, Sports, Talent Development, Gender, Inclusivity, Cultural Heritage and Social Services. (c) Mauline Atieno Omondi, Legal Assistant III in the Office of the County Attorney (d) Denis Odhiambo Munda, , Payroll Manager (e) Joseph Ooro, Radiographer II in the department of Health Services (f) Kevin Ochieng Miyungu, Radiographer III, in the Department of Health Services (g) George Climax Oyugi, Political advisor, Executive Office of the Governor (h) Rachel Jaluha Okumu, Economic Advisor, Executive Office of the Governor Sub-County Administrators Name Sub-County Nicholas Ayieta Odaro Suba South Moses Ouma Odero Suba North Erick Onyango Jakim Rangwe Robinson Magak Rachuomyo North Cynthia Okelo Opudo Rachuonyo south Fredrick Ochieng Oyugi Homa Bay Ward Administrators Name Sub-County Okinyi Jacob Omoro Kanyadoto Stephen Nicks Onditi Kwabwai Onyango Dancun Ochola Kagan Gerishon Barak Munga Kibiri Mary Awuor Onyango Homa Bay West Jacob Ouma Odede Lambwe Elizabeth Anyango Auma West Kamagak Wyckliffe Ochieng Njoga Kanyaluo Maureen Awuor Odhiambo Gem East 2.2. Promotion of Staff: The Public Service Board facilitated promotions of two hundred and ninety-five (295) officers from Department of Health, reflecting the Board's commitment to recognizing and rewarding talent. The list of staff promoted are attached in Annex 1. 2.3. Confirmation of Appointments: The Public Service Board in ensuring job security and stability confirmed two hundred and ninety-three (293) officers from Department of Governance and Administration and seven (7) officers from the Public Service Board into permanent and pensionable terms as part of the ongoing plan for officers who have been on probation for an extended period of time. The list of staff confirmed is attached in Annex 2. 2.4. Change of Terms: The Public Service Board changed the terms of one thousand one hundred and twenty-one (1,121) Early Year Education (EYE) Teachers employed in the year 2014 and two hundred and eighty-nine (289) Junior Clerks from contract to permanent and pensionable terms as part of comprehensive plan for officers that have been on probation and short contract for an extended period of time. 2.5. Re-designations: The Public Service Board in compliance with the criteria established under the CGA facilitated the re-designation of Edwin Anayo, Id No. 29782427 from Junior Clerk to Security Warden I in the Department of Governance and Administration. 2.6. Exits: 2.6.1. Resignations: The County Public Service Board received resignations from five (5) officers: 1. Valary Akumu Kasuku Principal Legal Officer 2. Anne Ashioya Revenue Clerk I 3. Cynthia Oyieke HRM&D Officer 4. Francis Otieno Aketch Municipal Manager 5. John Okinyi Ndege Director, Monitoring and Evaluation 24th January, 2025 THE KENYA GAZETTE 2.6.2. Transfer of Service 2.6.2.1. Inter/Intra County Transfers: During the period under review, the Board received Dr. Collins Ochieng Owuor, P/No. 2011006661 and released fourteen (14) officers as presented in the table below. Table 1: List of Staff on Transfer S/No. Name Designation Receiving Institution 1. Bernard Ouma Obongo ECD Teacher State Dept of Interior 2. Nickson Otieno Odhiambo Registered Nurse II Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University 3. Yvonne Adede Rangi Asst Vocational and Technical Trainer State Dept for Tech Vocational Education and Training 4. Elizabeth Ochieng Omire Asst Vocational and Technical Trainer State Dept for Tech Vocational Education and Training 5. Euphemia Awino Ombata Asst Vocational and Technical Trainer State Dept for Tech Vocational Education and Training 6. Paul Odhiambo Okoth Asst Vocational and Technical Trainer State Dept for Tech Vocational Education and Training 7. Alice Ruguru Kiarie Health Records and Information Officer KMTC 8. Winnie Anyango Odhiambo Administrative Officer III KMTC 9. Godfrey Ochieng Okuthe Health Records and Information Officer KMTC 10. Willis Onyango Okoth Principal Lab Officer County Govt of Migori 11. Onyango Daniel Odhiambo Radiographer KMTC 12. Ayieta Joseph Otieno Asst Vocational and Technical Trainer State Dept for Tech Vocational Education and Training 13. Harris Ochieng Obunye Asst Vocational and Technical Trainer State Dept for Tech Vocational Education and Training 14. Michael Meshack Onyango Asst Vocational and Technical Trainer State Dept for Tech Vocational Education and Training 2.6.2.2. Internal Transfers: In order to address identified capacity gaps, the Board acquired a Senior HR Officer to offer technical support to the CPSB. In addition, a Legal Assistant III within the County Attorney’s office was appointed to offer legal services to the Board when necessary. 2.6.3. Dismissals The Public Service Board implemented the dismissals of three (3) officers: 1. Lameck Otieno Ogot Dir. Recruitment and Selection 2. Charles Auma Modi Dir. Human Resource Management and Development 3. Solomon Owuor Ochogo County Payroll Manager 3.0. Promotion of Values and Principles In line with Article 232 of the Constitution of Kenya, the Board ensured that public service values such as professionalism, ethics, equity, and accountability were actively promoted. Compliance with Article 73 and Chapter Six of the Constitution was strictly adhered to by ensuring that public officers submitted duly filled wealth declaration forms. 4.0. Disciplinary Control and Compliance In the period under review, the County Public Service Board managed various disciplinary cases by ensuring compliance with legal procedures and fairness. Key outcomes included— (a) Addressing employee misconduct through thorough investigations and hearings. (b) Implementing transparent termination processes as necessary. (c) Training for managers and disciplinary committees to enhance compliance. On resolution of disciplinary cases in the period 2023, the CPSB is collaborating with CHRMAC to fast-track the determination and conclusion of these cases. The Board also undertook the validation of the PWC Census Audit Implementation Report as follows: 4.1. Introduction The Homa Bay County Public Service Board received the Implementation report of the PWC Audit on the 3rd of April 2024 as well as the hard copy of the PWC report from the County Secretary and Head of Public Service for further necessary action. Upon receipt of the report, the Board embarked on a validation and a thorough scrutiny of the findings and recommendations therein before taking any disciplinary actions against affected staff. The resolutions informed the Board’s recommendations on the report which are summarized here under: Table 2: Summary of the Board’s action on various categories presented by PWC Census audit report Category No. of Staff Gross Pay Dismissals 1a. Those recommended for dismissals but currently earning 345 10,395,281 Working but not earning 246 5,816,309 No records at the board 38 1,705,243 Lacking professional certificates/ have non authentic cert 22 1,157,423 Not attached to any dept. Couldn't tell supervisor 17 618,591 Lacking key documents 17 919,055 Reported by whistle blowers 4 134,860 No shows 1 43,800 1b. Those recommended for dismissals but currently not earning 325 13,845,356 Lacking prefessional certificates/non authentic cert 134 6,054,427 No shows 98 3,931,949 No records at the board 52 2,560,987 Not attached to any dept./ Couldn't tell supervisor 25 826,514 Working but not earning 13 361,938 Lacking key documents 2 67,690 Reported by whistle blowers 1 41,850 Grand total for dismissals 670 24,240,637 Exoneration Number Gross Pay 2a. Those recommended for exoneration but already in payroll 864 41,132,998 2b. Those recommended for exoneration but not in payroll (impact verified) 194 7,589,491 2c. Those recommended for exoneration but not in payroll (impact not verified) 3 0 Grand total for exoneration 1,059 48,722,490 Net payroll savings on implementation as recommended 2,923,209 Those whose details to be deleted from county payroll 39 0 Those to be disengaged from the county government 236 0 GRAND TOTAL 1,729 7:00 PM THE KENYA GAZETTE 24th January, 2025 188 188 5.0. Inclusivity and Diversity During the year under review, efforts were made by the Public Service Board to ensure representation of marginalized groups within the public service. In adherence to the County Government Act (CGA) 2012 and its mandate to uphold inclusivity, the CPSB committed to ensuring equitable representation of gender, marginalized groups, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in its recruitment processes. This report provides a summary of inclusivity in staffing for 2024, categorized by gender, region, and disability representation. Specific achievements included— (a) Gender representation objectives were met during recruitment. (b) Initiatives to support persons with disabilities in the workplace were institutionalized. (c) Focused effort on integrating human resource planning with budgetary processes. (d) Conducted workforce analysis for current and future staffing needs. (e) Co-ordinated with the County Treasury for accurate budgeting of personnel emoluments. 5.1. Gender Representation The CPSB recruited a total of 23 staff members in 2024, with the following breakdown: 1. Male: 17 (73.9%) 2. Female: 6 (26.1%) While efforts have been made, there is a notable gender gap favoring male recruits. 5.2. Representation of Marginalized Groups 1. From Homa Bay County: 22 recruits (95.7%) 2. Outside Homa Bay County: 1 recruit (4.3%) The CPSB has prioritized local representation, aligning with its goal to promote equitable development. 5.3. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) PWD recruits: 1 (4.3%) The inclusion of PWDs reflects compliance with the CGA 2012 mandate. However, the proportion remains below the statutory minimum threshold of 5%. Category-Specific Analysis 1. Leadership and Administration Roles: (a) Senior Assistant Director of HRM&D and Chief Officer positions were filled by local female and male respectively. (b) Sub-County and Ward Administrators included one PWD and included female representation (4 out of 15 officers). 2. Specialized Roles: (a) Professional positions such as Radiographer II, Payroll Manager, and Legal Assistant III were filled by males, with one (1) female occupying advisory role. 6.0. Recommendations for Improvement The County Public Service Board identified critical areas for development during the period under review— (a) Enhanced training programs for recruitment, selection, disciplinary procedures and performance management (b) Improved stakeholder engagement to bolster public participation in county service processes (c) Continued efforts to capacity build ICT and other skills among county employees for efficient and productive service delivery (d) Enhanced outreach and targeted recruitment strategies to attract more female and PWD candidates and collaboration with organizations supporting PWDs to improve awareness and accessibility. (e) Promotion of affirmative action in recruitment and selection process to ensure inclusivity of marginalized sections of the citizenry 7.0. Financial Overview 7.1. Budget Outlook for the Financial Year The Public Service Board received a budget allocation of KSh. 76,643,515 (seventy-six million, six hundred forty-three thousand, five hundred fifteen) for the fiscal year 2023/2024. This comprised of KSh. 3,140,000 for Development and KSh. 73,503,515 for Recurrent; out of which KSh. 53,244,549 was allocated for personnel emoluments and KSh. 20,258,966 for operations and maintenance. In the year under review, the Board managed to absorb a total of KSh. 65,807,372 which represents an absorption rate of 85.86%. The table below provides a detailed breakdown of the expenditures incurred by the board over the past financial year. Table 3: CPSB Expenditure FY 2023/2024 S/No. Item Description Amount 1. Staff Salaries 51,400,000 2. Communication, Supplies and Services 60,000 3. Domestic Travel and Subsistence 6,511,495 4. Printing , Advertising and Information Supplies and Services 990,380 5. Conference Services, Accommodation, Food and Drinks 3,938,674 6. Motor Vehicle Insurance 146,895 7. Office and General Supplies and Services 939,160 8. Fuel Oil and Lubricants 478,500 9. Maintenance Expenses - Motor Vehicles 857,182 10. Purchase of Office Furniture and Fittings 485,086 TOTAL 65,807,372 7.2. Budget Trend Analysis The budget trend analysis for the Homa Bay County Public Service Board over the past financial years reveal fluctuations in the allocated amounts with notable decrease in majority of the years. The Board has continuously advocated for adequate funding through the relevant channels and offices. Our efforts have, however not resulted in significant increase in allocation to fully facilitate the Board’s programmes. We are still hopeful that subsequent supplementary estimate processes will yield positive results to the Board. Table 4: Budget Trend Analysis FYs 2017-2024 F/Y 2017/2018 2018/2019 2019/2020 Recurrent 105,895,345 90,432,884 70,694,705 Development 12,000,000 1,999,321 6,000,000 Total 117,895,345 92,432,205 76,694,705 F/Y 2020/2021 2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024 Recurrent 31,542,891 52,385,686 96,159,828 73,503,515 Development 1,000,000 1,250,000 - 3,140,000 Total 32,542,891 53,635,686 96,159,828 76,643,515 7.3. Pending Bills Below is a tabulation of the pending bills accrued by the Board in the year under review. This is majorly attributed to inadequate disbursement of budgetary allocation to the Board. Such challenges as resource constraints/limited budget, has affected the pace of planned activities. 24th January, 2025 THE KENYA GAZETTE Table 5: List of Pending Bills FY 2023/2024 S/No. Payee Name Description Amount (Kshs.) 1 Mbita Tourist Hotel Catering services 465,000 2 Nation Media Group Advertisement 659,808 3 The standard Group plc Advertisement 975,440 4 Desweb Company Ltd Supply of stationery 455,600 5 Volt Consultancy Ltd Consultancy services 1,257,130 6 DSA to Nakuru DSAs on Training 106,300 7 Jabali Country Lodge Catering services 824,024 8 The Key grounds Catering services 356,700 9 M/s Pambo Hotel Conference 324,800 10 Lehmsal Company Ltd Supply of tires 497,350 11 CIC General Insurance Motor Vehicle Insurance 146,800 12 Williberg Farm Limited Catering services 473,150 13 Nyongiro Enterprises Supply of stationery 495,000 S/No. Payee Name Description Amount (Kshs.) 14 Warematt Investment Co. Ltd Supply of 10 laptops 1,220,000 TOTAL 8,257,102 7.4. Conclusion The CPSB remains committed to executing its mandate with diligence, fostering an accountable, transparent, and efficient public service. The successful initiatives undertaken in 2024 affirm our dedication to serving the people of the county with integrity and excellence. The continued support and guidance from the County Assembly are invaluable as we strive to empower our workforce and ensure a high standard of service delivery. Dated the 10th January, 2024. RUTH ALOO, Ag. Ceo/Secretary County Public Service Board.