STATE DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC SERVICE HODs WORKSHOP

Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Service, Mrs. Mary Kimonye, on Monday 5th October opened a two-day workshop for Heads of Departments and other senior staff members in the State Department for Public Service at Kenya School of Government, Kabete Campus to sensitize them on Public Financial Management. The workshop themed “Building Forward Better” covered areas on Performance Contracting, Strategic plan, Budget Planning, Principles of Internal Audit and Procedures among others.

She noted that most of the HODs who doubled up as Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) holders played a significant role in the Ministry’s financial and accounting process. “Your role in the financial process is critical. We depend on you to help us assess the quality, validity, authenticity and usefulness of the approvals we receive as we strive to fulfil our mandate,” said Mrs. Kimonye.

Mrs. Kimonye indicated that the training was designed to be interactive to provide skills, encourage participation and exchange information among the participants. Further, she challenged the HODs to acquaint themselves with the Ministry’s Strategic Plan and the Public Financial Management Act (PFM) in discharging their mandate.

The workshop was expected to upgrade knowledge and skills to streamline the financial management process; with a focus on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) guidelines and a linkage between Strategic Plan, Work Planning and Budget.

Principal Secretaries who are the designated Accounting Officers in various State Departments represent the National Treasury in making sure that finances allocated to their respective MDAs are utilized as per the PFM Act 2012 and subsequent regulations that supplement the law. These include Treasury Circulars that guide the Accounting Officers on effective financial management of the allocated resources. The National Treasury has been undertaking PFM reforms geared towards making budgets more responsive to the needs of (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) MDAs that are geared towards growth and development of the Nation.

Mrs. Kimonye urged the HoDs to be part of the team to provide technical input in the budget process in order to provide a budget that is aligned to the aspirations of the State Department and in line with the prevailing Government Agenda. The Principal Secretary also appealed to the HODs to use the workshop to learn and draw priorities for their various departments during a period of scarce resources.

By Nelly Kosgey