TALKING POINTS FOR HON. PETER KENNETH, MGH, MP, ASSISTANT MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND VISION 2030, DURING THE MINISTRY STAFF RETREAT AT THE CARNIVORE ON 16 TH SEPTEMBER 2011 AT THE CARNIVORE GROUNDS, NAIROBI

Hon. Ministers

The Permanent Secretary

Economic Planning Secretary

Senior Director of Administration

Chief Executive Officers

Directors

Ministry Staff

Invited Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen:

•  I am greatly excited to be with you here today to celebrate with you the achievements of our Ministry in the last one year as well as reflect on the challenges and lessons we have learnt in the process.

•  Allow me to start by congratulating all of you for the exemplary performance in the implementation of the 2009/10 performance contract where our Ministry was ranked number one overall. This achievement is, in itself, a clear demonstration of our passion for results, commitment to customer focused service delivery and our creativity and innovativeness in delivering our mandate.

•  As we celebrate this latest achievement, I would like to remind all of us that getting to the top is always the easiest part; but staying up there is no mean task. I would therefore urge all of us to strive towards attaining higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. This is the only way we can ensure that we are always, at least, a step ahead of the rest.

•  Other than the remarkable success in performance contracting, the Ministry and KIPPRA attained ISO certification and, thus, effectively benchmarked their processes with international set standards. We all know that the process towards ISO certification is not a walk in the park. It demands the highest levels of coordination, commitment, sacrifice and patience. It is therefore worthy toasting to this outstanding achievement by the mother Ministry and KIPPRA.

•  In the same breath, I urge the other SAGAs in the Ministry to step-up their quest to achieving ISO certification by adopting best practices from the Ministry and KIPPRA.

•  In the last one year, we have continued to enhance our coordinating role in the implementation of the Vision 2030. Implementation of most of the flagship projects is now on course. We have continued to provide requisite statistics and research as well as progress reports to inform implementation of the Vision. In addition, I am proud that, through CDF, PEC and many other projects under the Rural Planning Directorate, the Ministry is directly transforming lives of Kenyans.

•  Indeed, successful organizations have staff that initiate, create, innovate, and find new ways to do things better, without being told.

•  As we strive to exceed our achievements this year, we should in addition to building technical skills, promote people skills. In this regard, this retreat has given us a good opportunity to enhance our self-motivation and confidence as well as our creativity and interpersonal skills.

•  I believe the activities we have engaged in since morning have boosted our energies while at the same time stimulating our thinking capabilities. I am happy to note that a lot of emphasis has been laid in building trust as well as inculcating teamwork amongst the ministry staff.

•  We have learned that wearing the same colour of T-shirts doesn't make a team. A team is created when every member feels that he/she is unique and adds value to a common purpose. When you break down barriers, misunderstandings, prejudices, insecurities, divisions, territories and bureaucracy - you begin to build teams.

•  Remember "Team work divides the task and doubles the success."

Thank you