Proposed administrative reforms under the BBI

  • 27 Nov 2020
  • 3 Mins Read
  • 〜 by The Vellum Team

The BBI Taskforce Report posits that a majority of Kenyans want things done differently. It highlights many factors that impede the implementation of administrative action such as:

  • Negative attitude/ lethargy/ poor behaviour within the public service;
  • Systems that are created to fail;
  • Inadequate funding
  • Lack of timely release of funding;
  • Lack of political goodwill;
  • Duplication or overlapping of functions;
  • Too much bureaucracy (inconsistent flow of authority/indiscipline/nepotism/ parallel chain of loyalty where a junior enjoys patronage of his/her boss);
  • Lack of information by the public;
  • Lack of skills mapping and matching in the public service;
  • Low uptake of ICT to reduce human interaction in service delivery in the public service;
  • Lack of ethical standards;
  • Lack of accountability;
  • Lack of responsible citizenship;
  • Lack of nationhood (people are not driven by public interest).
    The BBI Taskforce Report proposes many reforms and for these reforms to be realised administratively, Kenya will need:
  • Committed Public Officers;
  • Government Programmes and Interventions at Family Level;
  • Institutional Focus on Administrative Processes in Line with the Constitution and the Law Working

The Administrative Mechanisms

1. National Ethos

  • The most crucial national task is to think big and long-term.
  • That vision must stand alongside an official and inclusive history.
  • We must become comfortable in our own African skin.
  • All of us have a responsibility.
  • Link cultural values and modern norms of Kenyans

2. Responsibilities and Rights

  • Recognise that the responsibilities and rights of Kenyans are rooted in the individual and they enable the knowledge and attitudes that strengthen responsible citizenship.
  • Responsibility of leaders to utilise public service
  • Form an Inter-Ministerial Taskforce
  • Entrench ethics awareness, training and accountability in the workplace
  • Growing by being of service 3.Ethnic Antagonism & Competition
  • Build and strengthen the ties that bind us.
  • Institutionalisation of national political parties

3. Divisive Elections

  • Representation in the electoral system
  • Changes to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission

4. Inclusivity

  • Kenyans yearning for inclusivity on political, economic, social, religious, cultural, age and gender basis
  • Employment in the public services should reflect the ethnic, religious, regional and cultural Face of Kenya and be free from corruption in recruitment

5. Shared Prosperity

  • Need for an economic revolution (for high-employment, highproductivity, value-creation and export economy) • Use scarce public resources for development, not bureaucracy
  • Nurture and open opportunities for children and young people to show their initiative, innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Government development actions should be undertaken in every County.

6. Corruption

  • Free Kenyans from cartel capture
  • Using Prevention and Deterrence to Counter Corruption
  • Digitisation of Government Services
  • Stem public wastage
  • Institutional reforms

7. Devolution

• Retain the 47 Counties and support the voluntary process of Counties forming regional economic blocs

  • Changes to the County Executive • Kenyans need a far better healthcare system if this country is to be productive and prosperous.
  • County Government spending-financing the development of each Ward to at least 30% of the County development budget within the five-year term.
  • Counties also must grow the economic pie.
  • No double taxation or double regulation at the National and County levels.
  • Strengthen dialogue and integration of communities in the Counties, especially those that are multi-ethnic, with a focus on ensuring minorities are heard and respected.

8. Safety and Security

  • Every life in Kenya has equal value.
  • A people-owned National Security Strategy.
  • Lower vulnerability to resource conflicts, disasters, emergencies and food insecurity.
  • Terrorism as a continuing threat to Kenyans. • Police performance, mental health and wellbeing.
  • Secure citizens from personal threats

9. Commissions and Cross-Cutting Issues

  • Strengthening the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to complement the independence of the criminal justice system
  • Significantly increase the amount of resources available to the Director of Public Prosecutions to enable effective prosecutions.
  • Strengthen the Government Chemist to increase its effectiveness in carrying out its mandate.
  • Commissions and independent offices should be subjected to stringent reviews by relevant bodies to ensure that they carry out their duties as mandated.