Measurements & Benchmarks
I was reading an interview that Muthaura gave to the Standard and as I was reading it, I began to think about this issue of benchmarks and measurements. The reason I began to think about these two issues is because Muthaura does describe the various functions of his job during that interview and I thought to myself…..”does this man ever wonder whether what he is doing is actually working”?
At every job I’ve ever had, they’ve always been benchmarks and measurements in relation to functions that we were all working to achieve. So, everyday, the bosses would constantly re-examine those benchmarks to make sure that the work was being completed in order to meet those benchmarks. In other words, they were not paying people to keep working to produce nothing. They were certain goals that needed to be completed and if they weren’t completed, people would get fired (for failing).
A particular section of that interview really caught my attention and it was the part where he said the following:
“As the Secretary to the Cabinet, I communicate policy directives from the President to the ministers. This is a facilitating role. It is the respective permanent secretaries who prepare policy documents for their ministers. But many times in Government there are issues that cut through various dockets or issues that are weighty and have to be discussed in a meeting of permanent secretaries. I come in to chair these meetings. The permanent secretaries also contact me when they need guidelines on application of certain circulars. We sit down to remove these obstacles. In this case, permanent secretaries work as an intellectual resource for the government”. (full interview here: Benchmarks to nowhere)
Muthaura can say what he wants and I’m sure he believes he is working very hard, but if all your hard work is achieving nothing (in practical terms), shouldn’t you then, seriously re-evaluate what’s going wrong? And it’s not just Muthaura here who seems to be failing, it’s all these politicians. Do these guys use benchmarks and measurements?
Look at Moi’s 25 years in power? He did nothing.
Look at Raila’s 25 years as MP for Kibera? nothing; not even a sewage system or toilets.
Look at Kalonzo’s 25 years as MP? nothing. He is now saying the time has come to tackle the food crisis! Hello? where’s he been for the last 25 years.
Look at Kibaki’s 6 years in office? nothing — at least not in terms of reducing extreme poverty.
I wonder if any of these people lie in bed and think to themselves…”you know, um….I’ve been doing the same thing for 20 years and I’m not seeing any changes, so maybe I should try something different”?
I was having drinks with some friends last night and I was telling them how this internet venture I’m trying out is just not working. I’ve been doing certain things for about 4 months and I’m not seeing any progress. So, in order for me to achieve what I need to achieve, I’m going to have to change course — it would be stupid of me to keep doing something that is producing nothing. So, I am now in the process of re-thinking my strategy.
Now, why can’t these politicians do the same thing?
If you read accounts of Moi’s personal life, all the people who knew him have said that he was not a lazy man. His day would begin at 5 a.m. in the morning and he would work late into the night (till 1 or 2 a.m) — but so what? if that work is producing no results, it’s a waste of time and energy.
Salim Lome, Raila’s spokesperson has said that he worries about Raila’s health because he is works such long hours. Doing what? I ask…
If you refuse to use measurements and benchmarks, then there’s really no point of working.
Coz they do the same crap for 20 years… what’s more… there is more interest in THEFT than actually doing good…
kenyatta – grab more land (everywhere)
moi – build projects for a kickback e.g. turkwell
kibaki – propose project, get 100% kickback e.g. anglo-fleecing
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-.....index.html
How can Kenyans justify these salaries (in addition to the perks they receive) for politicians?
How can the Kenyan prez (stolen or otherwise) or PM make more than the prez/PM of countries far more prosperous?
kibz makes more than Obama. The USA has an economy at least 800x larger than Kenya’s!
raila makes more than Gordon Brown. The UK’s economy is at least 100x larger than Kenya’s!
http://www.eastandard.net/busi.....4&
More corruption.
Kenya has vision 2030. What a waste… the Asian Tigers did it in 30 years. China & India have a long way to go but they might get there before Kenya does.
I used to be an optimist on Kenya but I see nothing to boost my optimism. Kenya remains a under-developed (or is it 3rd world) country… and will remain there for years to come.
KE,
You can spend hours studying but if you studying the wrong stuff .. You’ll flunk…
So it does not matter how much hours they’ll spend awake at work…… The question is … How productive are these people …. For every hour they spend at work what do they produce…. They may spend all these hours at working and misdiagnosing the problems of the people …
Even a doctor can give a patient the wrong medicine …. And a politician can have the wrong medicine for the problem which faces the people..
The Gap of knowing and not knowing seems to be very large in Kenya …. Even the state officials seems to be suffering from this problem….. Its so wide that am almsost to start believing its a Sin.
Remember facts say Americans and Japanese work the most hours in the world, no wonder theirs are the first and second largest economies in the world. But to use KE words “they produce something”… So Moi or Raila may work more undocumented hours but for what of the good to the country?
Reminds me of the Kenyans who work from dusk to dawn owning a small duka or kiosk. 20 years later, they are still having samo duka and living in the same thatched house and selling samo small products whereas good business trends dictate they should by now owning a supermarket. Sometimes I wonder whether we lack resources or Skills coz we work as hard as the Americans or the Japanese yet we never really fast progress.
Dee
You know the answer…its thinking that is the problem…..but i must add this is a serious topic that is not served well by one liners…..
….let me do some research
KE:
The answer to this is very simple, these fellas are busy enriching themselves, no wonder they need to work long hours to ensure how they are going to protect their ill gotten wealth. If these guys would ever have the interest of their nation and people at heart, then their results would show in their approach, thinking and execution. Unfortunately, they fail miserably in running the country, it doesn’t require a genius to point this out!
In my opinion, all these politicians are just a useless bunch. Kenyans need new leadership that has qualified people who are real professionals, and have the desire to bring this nation forward…
It’s so sad, instead of moving our nation forward, these guys drag it down further with their greed….
They have benchmarks:
How to scam the public for larger sums using goldenberg as the base case!
Also how to pay themselves more!!!