The Council of Governors (CoG) secretariat held its semi-annual review for the FY 2023/24 on 26th – 27th March at the Sarova Woodlands in Nakuru County. The purpose of the meeting was to reflect on the achievements for the first half of the year, to inform end-of-year planning and the strategic plan implementation process.
Further, the meeting was aimed at assessing the implementation of the CoG strategic plan 2022-27 and key initiatives to determine organizational performance against set objectives and targets, recognizing obstacles hindering progress and developing strategies to effectively address them; and, ensuring ongoing activities align with the strategic plan, identifying areas for improvement to achieve long-term objectives.
Speaking during the meeting, the CEO CoG Mary Mwiti congratulated all staff for the roles they played to ensure devolution is a success in Kenya. She encouraged all staff to work diligently and sacrificially to ensure that the organization succeeds.
Further, the CEO rallied everyone to work as a team under the guiding theme Stronger Together: Delivering the Strategy. Under this theme, there are six thematic areas dubbed the 6Ss. These are: Shift to safeguarding devolution, Strengthening CoG brand in Counties, Strong institution, Solid knowledge management, strengthening resource mobilization and partnerships; and, Strengthened staff welfare.
To this end, the Council of Governors has achieved commendable overall performance, with a significant improvement in strategic plan implementation of 8.49% up from 4%. However, this has not come without its fair share of challenges. Key among them is the non-implementation of resolutions by key stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Health, eroding progress and cooperation essential for success. Moreover, the claw-back on devolved functions by the National Government introduces uncertainty and disrupts governance processes at the local level, further complicating implementation efforts.
Addressing these multifaceted challenges will require comprehensive strategies and concerted efforts between the Council of Governors and other institutions including the National Ministries, Development partners, Civil Society Organizations and the Private Sector among other stakeholders.
The recommendations will collectively present an all-inclusive approach to enhancing the effectiveness and responsiveness of the organization in navigating complex challenges and opportunities.