Owalo: Government to foster private-sector mindset to improve service delivery

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Performance and Delivery Management, Mr. Eliud Owalo, says ineffective organizational cultures have hindered progress within the public sector and contributed to wastage and inefficiencies.

As part of ongoing reforms, Mr. Owalo says, the government is working to foster a private-sector mindset within public institutions to improve performance and service delivery.

“One of the biggest problems that we have been having in Kenya is a wrong culture. You may have a good strategy, but if culture in those organizations is not correct, then you cannot get the results.

Historically, the performance of most parastatals has been wanting because of wrong culture,” Mr. Owalo said.

The government’s digital push is part of a broader strategy to ensure effective implementation of the Kenya Kwanza plan – a policy framework that underpinned the current administration’s campaign and guides its development agenda.

Mr. Owalo said the government’s efforts are showing tangible results, with over 20,000 government services now available to Kenyans at the touch of a button.

“We are re-engineering business processes in the public sector through digitalization,” Mr. Owalo said. “When we came into government, there were only 350 services on the E-Citizen platform. Today, we have over 20,000 government services available digitally. This shift will enhance efficiency, minimize bottlenecks, and ensure faster delivery of government services to the people.”

Speaking in Asembo, Mr. Owalo said that the government is on track in delivering development projects and programs.

“Based on our review and the scorecard of the current administration, I want to assure Kenyans that we are making significant progress in implementing key development projects,” he said.

Mr. Owalo added: “We have also, based on past performance, prioritized what needs to be done over the next two years with a view to fully implementing the Kenya Kwanza plan which was the basis of our campaign and now forms the overall policy framework and development agenda of government.”

The government has identified high impact projects in several regions as part of the country’s long-term development strategy. Mr. Owalo revealed that the Nyanza region is set to benefit from a strategic focus on agriculture, infrastructure, and industrial development.

“In Nyanza, we have an enabling environment right now for purposes of development. We want to zero in on certain integral sectors and projects that would rejuvenate the economy of the Nyanza region and the entire Lake region,” Mr. Owalo emphasized.

One of the government’s key initiatives in Nyanza is the revitalization of the sugar industry. Mr. Owalo said plans are in place to lease sugar mills to the private sector to allow for capital infusion that will restore operations and optimize production.

Another major project is the Lake Victoria Ring Road, a vital infrastructure project that has been in the planning stages for decades. Mr. Owalo assured the public that the current administration is committed to completing the road, with many sections already redesigned.

“This road has been in plan, historically, for an exceedingly long time. Under the current administration, we are determined to see that this road will see light,” said Mr. Owalo. Upon completion, the road will facilitate trade, commerce, and entrepreneurship across Nyanza and beyond.

The government is also focusing on revitalizing the cotton industry, which once thrived in the region. Plans are underway to restore cotton ginneries and establish a comprehensive cotton processing network. This will transform raw cotton into finished products, supporting local industries and creating jobs.

In greater Kisii, Mr. Owalo said, the government is exploring opportunities to process local agricultural products such as tea, coffee, avocado, and bananas. The establishment of processing factories in the region is expected to add value to these products, boosting local industries and opening new markets for the region’s agricultural output.

Similarly, in Kuria, a major potato processing factory is being pursued to tap into the vast potential of potato farming in the region.

The Getonganya Sweet Potato Processing Factory in Kuria West that produces a mere 3-tons daily, against a projected 40-tons daily capacity, is set to be fully operationalized.

This investment will provide value-added products for both domestic and international markets and increase income for local farmers.

The government has also laid out plans to tap the region’s natural resources. In Nyanza, there are numerous mineral resources, including gold in Macalder and Sakwa, and iron ore in Homa Bay and Siaya counties.

Mr. Owalo emphasized the need for a solid regulatory framework to ensure that the benefits from these resources are reinvested into local communities.

“The other fundamental program we want to see is Soapstone Factory in Kisii. Kisii county has rich raw material base for soapstone,” Mr. Owalo said.

The Kisumu International Airport also holds significant potential for Nyanza’s economy. The airport is being developed into a key hub for exporting agricultural produce by boosting air cargo capabilities.

“We want farm produce and produce from the lake to be shipped directly to external markets through Kisumu International Airport,” Mr. Owalo said.

Water infrastructure projects are also high on the government’s agenda. The Koru-Soin Dam, once fully operational, will solve flooding issues in Nyando and provide essential water supplies to households across Nyanza. It will also facilitate the potential of the 60 MW Sondu-Miriu hydroelectric plant located in Kisumu County.

Another important project is Magwagwa Multipurpose Dam situated on the Sondu River in Nyamira County.

Its construction is expected to start in 2029 and become operational by 2032, generating 120 MW of electricity. The Lake Basin Development Authority, in collaboration with Xago Africa, is spearheading the development of this project.

“We are determined to see the full implementation of these projects within our current term,” Mr. Owalo stated. “These efforts will transform Nyanza into an economic powerhouse, benefiting not just the region, but the entire country.”