Machakos Ushers in Digital Era of Performance Contracting

By Andrew Mbuva 

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has officially launched the digitization of performance contracting in the county, marking what she described as a “decisive shift towards accountability, transparency, and measurable excellence” in public service delivery.

Speaking on Wednesday during the release of the annual departmental performance report at the Machakos White House, Governor Ndeti underscored that the move to digitize performance contracting was not merely a technological upgrade but “a statement of intent” by her administration.

“From today forward, our performance systems will be transparent, accessible, and data-driven,” the governor declared. “Digitization allows real-time tracking, minimizes manipulation, and gives citizens and oversight bodies a clear window into how we are doing.”

The governor noted that performance contracting is one of the most powerful tools in public service management, bridging the gap between policy and impact, and ensuring taxpayers get value for every shilling spent.

During the ceremony, the Department of Agriculture, Food Security, Cooperative and Livestock Development emerged as the best-performing department, followed by the Department of Finance, Revenue, Economic Planning and ICT, and the Department of Lands, Urban Planning and Energy. The three were awarded trophies and certificates in recognition of their exemplary service.

The performance contracting process was overseen by the Performance Management Advisory Committee, composed of eminent professionals including Mutua Kilaka (Chair and former PS Treasury), Sylvester Muli (Advisor on Infrastructure and former Chief Architect, GoK), Professor Ndeti Ndati of the University of Nairobi, and Dr. Kaloki, an ICT advisor and consultant.

Governor Ndeti congratulated the top-performing departments, urging them to sustain their momentum while reminding underperforming units that digitization leaves “no hiding place.”

“For the departments that have not yet met the required standards, this launch is both a challenge and a warning,” she said. “The public and this administration will no longer accept excuses. You must raise your game.”

She added that performance contracting should no longer be seen as a ritual but as a genuine commitment to deliver results, anchored on transparency and service delivery.

The governor called on all county officers to embrace the digital transformation, saying it sets Machakos on a path to becoming a model of excellence in public service.

“Together, we can make Machakos a county where every resource counts, and a future shaped by performance, not politics,” she affirmed.