The Parliamentary Service Commission has adopted performance contracting for senior staff in a bid to embrace best practices in human resource management, a move the Commission says could be cascaded to junior cadre staff in the long term.

Leading the Parliamentary Service Commissioners in overseeing the signing of these contracts on Monday, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Hon. Justin Muturi who is also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission, said the development is expected to accelerate service quality; instill efficiency and consistency while promoting staff innovation in Parliament.

"Today symbolises the beginning of the era of performance contracting in the Parliamentary Service in which we will expect exemplary administrative and technical competence, accountability and greater customer focus," noted Speaker Muturi.

He was addressing nearly fifty senior staff who have now been committed to performance contracts for a period of 5-years. The officers are drawn from the 3-services under the Parliamentary Service namely: the National Assembly Service, the Senate Service and the Joint Parliamentary Services, also comprising of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training.

Following the enactment of Parliamentary Service Commission Act 2019, and the adoption of the 2019 - 2030 Strategic Plan, the Parliamentary Service Commission has been keen in implementing and actualising Strategic Pillar No. 2, which focuses on the value of services offered to Members of Parliament. The Commission believes this will be achieved through institutionalizing performance management systems across the Parliamentary Service.

Addressing the forum, the Clerk of the Senate, who also serves as Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye acknowledged that this was a new era and a new beginning for Parliament and its staff. He observed that performance contracting is a best practice in public service which has proven to be ‘a tried-and-true method’ of measuring performance by ensuring that every person plays their part in achieving the objectives of the organisation. This was echoed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Michael Sialai who added that Parliament is making great strides in professionalizing its operations.

The Parliament of Kenya which is only the second legislature across Africa-after the South African Parliament- to use a balance score card as tool in performance management, partnered with the Institute of Human Resource Management in structuring the development of  the current staff management control system. The Institute is a statutory body which enhances competencies and capabilities of organisations while supporting innovative and transformative Human Resource practices played a key role as the consultant developing and standardising Human Resource best practice.

On her part, the Commission Vice Chairperson, the Hon. Naomi Shaban, hailed the move as progressive, as it is geared towards shaping Parliamentary activities to the achievement of envisaged results under the PSC strategic plan, and re-orientate goals and objectives towards cost effectiveness and responsiveness to customer demands.

 ‘This is a new way of working. The Parliamentary Service Commission has made great strides in modernising human resource management and embracing performance contracting which will strengthen the institution", said Hon. Shaban.

Another Commissioner, the Hon. Adan Keynan explained that the move demonstrates that the Parliament of Kenya and the country at large, is a leader in Human Resource Management. A number of government agencies and Ministries have already embraced performance contracting.

During the meeting the Clerk of the Senate, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Director General of Joint Services, the Deputy Clerks of both Houses, the Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training and the Director of the Parliamentary Budget Office led other senior staff in signing performance contracts.