11TH CABINET MEETING HELD ON 2ND DECEMBER, 2014 Earlier today, 2nd December 2014, His Excellency the President chaired the 11th Cabinet Meeting of 2014 at State House, Nairobi. During the meeting, Cabinet considered a number of major legislative and policy matters, among them: 1. The Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Bill, 2014; 2. The Kenya External Resource Policy (KERP); 3. The effect of the recent reduction in international prices of Petroleum Products on local petrol prices; 4. The lighting up of Nairobi City County for Improved Security and its 24-hour economy, and; 5. The Presidential Digital Talent Programme. 1. The Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Bill, 2014; 1.1 Article 227 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) requires a fair,equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective system of public contracting for goods and services. An effective system of public procurement and asset disposal is also vital for bringing together the resources to be equitably shared between the two levels of government. Equally, it is a necessary condition for the achievement of the country’s Vision 2030, and our broader development objectives. The Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Bill aims to meet these serve these ends, and establish the effective and efficient system we need . 1.2 The Bill requires greater accountability, transparency and value for money in all procurement . 1.3 Once enacted, it will create several new structures: a Public Procurement Regulatory Authority to replace the present Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA), and a Public Procurement Administrative Review Board, whose Chairman would be appointed by the President to oversee procurement across Government. 1.4 Major projects will now require Cabinet approval. 1.5 Public asset management has been tightened, removing the scope for bureaucratic interference in these decisions. 1.6 Cabinet endorsed digital procurement and advertising. 1.7 Procurement by State and Government Agencies will fall under closer scrutiny, to minimize unethical decisions, and enhance value for money. 1.8 The roles of Cabinet Secretaries have been widened. They now have greater oversight in sanctioning procurement in MDAs and State and Government Agencies, formerly a preserve of principal secretaries. They will now also approve work, procurement, and cash flow plans. 1.9 They will also play a greater role in personnel management in their ministries including, particularly in decisions to do with hiring, promotion, career progression, discipline and exit for Officers to Job Group “P” and below. 1.10 Cabinet Secretaries will lead major transformation strategic initiatives in their Ministries, including approval and attainment of targets and managing integrity and accountability matters. These changes follow the structural shifts occasioned by the CoK that have necessitated a paradigm shift in doctrine and philosophy of the civil service, and its attendant operations, procedures, systems and manuals. 1.11 The Bill establishes specific preferences for Kenyan goods, for indigenous Kenyan firms and businesses, and for joint ventures where Kenyans hold a substantial shareholding. These measures reinforce the “Buy Kenya’ Build Kenya” ethos. 1.12 Spoilers, as well as frivolous, odious and malicious appeals of public procurement decision have been checkmated by a provision of the Bill that requires a fixed cash deposit before appeals are heard. This requirement will also apply to Judicial Reviews, all of which will now also have to end within specific timeframes, the better to avoid delays in important projects. 1.13 Stiffer sentences for malpractice have been included to enhance integrity and professionalism in procurement. 2. Approval of the Kenya External Resources Policy. This is a new policy to govern the mobilization of external resources, and their use in the country. The Kenya External Resources Policy (KERP) conforms to prior agreements between the international community and recipient countries of Official Development Assistance (ODA), to which Kenya is a signatory. These agreements aim for increased aid effectiveness by entrenching closer harmonization, alignment, and coordination as fundamental principles of ODA management. Under the policy, the Government of Kenya is committed to improving the effectiveness of the external assistance it receives, in response to the changing international ODA environment, while remaining consistent with our national priorities. 3. The Full Implementation of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) to Facilitate Voting by the Diaspora in the General Elections The Cabinet also approved the setting up of a taskforce to enable the full implementation of the constitution of Kenya (2010), by allowing the Kenyan diaspora to vote in general elections. 4. Lighting up Nairobi for Improved Security and a 24-Hour Economy The national and Nairobi county governments are partners in a programme to light up Nairobi City. Cabinet was briefed on the progress of the joint programme, and on the national government’s plans to extend the programme to every county. Smart, inclusive growth will be achieved by encouraging a 24-hour economy. Inter alia, that will require adequate public lighting to both industrial and residential areas, as well as commercial centres, roads, railways and public transport facilities. In line with its policy of stimulating a resource-efficient economy, the public lighting will be sustainable and energy efficient. Under the programme, approximately 416 streets, 24,000 lighting columns and 7,300 public lighting masts, covering 30% of the city, will be refurbished, at an estimated cost of 953 million. To cover the remaining 70%, new infrastructure will constructed. The capital investment is estimated at KShs 7,923 billion. That will include 12,959 public lighting masts; 54,029 street lighting points on steel/concrete poles; and brackets on existing KPLC power lines, among other items of infrastructure. These will be situated in public open areas and informal settlements. Some highlights of the programme so far: • Kibera slums upgrade • Relocation of all power lines obstructing roads works completed; • 45 lanterns and power infrastructure have been installed on the new 1.5 km Soweto— Silanga—Darajani Crescent roads; • Work is in progress on the 1.6 km Laini Saba—Darajani Crescent road stretch; • 30 public masts were lit up within the project area. Kibera has a total number of 116 lighting masts installed; • 100 Floodlights were procured and supplied to NYS for night load construction and quarrying works; • A connection to the NYS camp next to the DO’s office; • Work to electrify new public toilet buildings, police posts, Beyond Zero clinics, and new public commercial facilities in progress. • The Rural Electrification Authority (REA) is lighting up Kibera through installation of 21 floodlight masts. Contracts for works were awarded by REA on Monday, 13th October 2014 to three firms at a total cost of KShs 89.3 million. They will be completed by 3rd December 2014. • Nairobi City County Roads Rehabilitation • 490 streets, lanes, avenues were to be refurbished, consisting of 116 streets with public lighting mounted on KPLC infrastructure, and 374 streets mounted on NCC steel columns. • The project began on 21st November 2014. By 26th 97 main streets were fully rehabilitated. 43 public lighting masts have been supplied, and 831 lanterns rehabilitated. • By 5th December 2014 another 120 street, lanes, avenues are expected to be completed. • Rehabilitation of Mbagathi Road, part of Langata Road (T-Mall to Madaraka), Aerodromes Road, Bunyala Road, Commercial Street, Enterprise Road (DT Dobie to GM), and Lunga Lunga Road. • Hurlingham, Lavington areas including Ngong Road, Statehouse Road area from Uhuru Avenue, University way, Valley Road, Ngong Road, James Gichuru, Argwings Kodhek. • Lusaka Road was not covered due to ongoing road works that include lighting as a component. • KENHA has begun repairing the vandalized infrastructure on sections of Thika Super highway from Museum to Kenyatta University, and on Nyayo Stadium to JKIA. • The Easter bypass between City Cabanas and Embakasi Garrison has been rehabilitated and handed over to NCC. 5. The Presidential Digital Talent Programme Cabinet was briefed on, and endorsed, the Presidential Digital Talent Programme which will enhance government’s ICT capacity in two key areas: ICT strategic leadership, and ICT technical capacity. The Presidential Digital Talent Programme (PDTP) initiative is a partnership between government, academic and the private and public sector, designed to build within Government the ICT capacity necessary for effective, efficient service delivery. The initiative will focus on two key aspects: leadership and internship. The first will be achieved by developing CIO-type leaders in Government by imbuing them with the ICT business principles they need for the management of ICT structures. A programme of internship, under which 200 freshly qualified graduates will undergo rigorous training in government ministries, will serve the second aspect. It is expected that participation in this programme will set interns on the path to industry certification in service delivery, information security, network administration and information, and systems management. The initiative is expected to last between three and five years. END
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 04:50:47 +0000
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