University of Nairobi Recognizes Top Performers at Annual Staff Recognition Awards Ceremony
The University of Nairobi rolled out the red carpet to honor and celebrate hundreds of its hardworking staff at the Annual Staff Performance Recognition Award ceremony. At the heart of the event was the signing of the Performance Contract for the year Financial Year 2023/2024. This crucial contract, was signed by Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, the Chair of Council, The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama, Mr. Brian Ouma, Chief Operations Officer, Prof. Julius Ogeng’o, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, and Prof. Margaret Hutchinson, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation, Enterprise in the presence of the University community. The Performance Contracts will then be cascaded to the Faculty and central unit levels and further cascaded to individuals. Dr. Grace Kiringa, the Director, the Directorate of Planning and Performance Management and Enterprise, spearheaded the event. Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, Chair of Council, served as the chief guest.
The ceremony marked the culmination of a year of outstanding performance by UoN staff, with all ten faculties achieving the "Very Good" grade in the performance evaluation reports. The results underscore the university's commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in service delivery.
The Chair of Council, Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, stressed the significance of teamwork and harmony within the university community, stating, "Teamwork and harmony are vital to our success. We must work collectively towards a shared vision. We are all part of the University of Nairobi community.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama emphasized the importance of performance contracting in streamlining the management and operations of all University Units. He noted that the strategy has been instrumental in driving efficiency and effectiveness across the institution.
"The introduction of performance contracting in Kenya aimed to establish performance measurements, clarify corporate objectives, embrace customer orientation, & foster a focus on productivity & cost reduction to enhance service delivery," Prof. Kiama stated.
Mr. Brian Ouma, Chief Operations Officer, emphasized the extension of performance contracting to individual staff appraisal, stating, “The Performance Contracting was eventually cascaded to individual staff appraisal. A performance appraisal system is the periodic assessment of an employee's job performance as measured by the competency expectations set out by the University. The performance assessment often includes both the core competencies required by the University and also the competencies specific to the employees”
The Performance Contract, a management tool introduced at the University of Nairobi in the fiscal year 2005/2006, has played a pivotal role in driving performance and accountability across the institution. Aligned with Kenya's Vision 2030, the Performance Contracting strategy aims to strengthen public administration and service delivery, emphasizing the importance of citizen service charters and a performance-driven culture.
The event also featured the recognition of top performers at both Faculty and departmental levels as well as Central Units. The Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine emerged as the top three best performing faculties, while the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, Department of Clinical Studies, and Department of Management Science and Project Planning took the top three spots among teaching departments.
In the Central Units and Directorates category, Supply Chain Management Services, Corporate Affairs, and Dean of Students and Career Services were recognized for their outstanding performance. The Faculty of the Built Environment and Design was lauded for its significant improvement from the previous year, while the Department of Real Estate, Construction Management & Quantity Surveying emerged as the most improved teaching department.
Individual staff members from all Faculties and Central Units were also recognized for their exemplary contributions. Prof. George Abong from the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology received the award for the best researcher overall. Dr. John Obiero from the Faculty of Engineering was recognized as the best performing teacher. Additionally, two members of staff from the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Ms. Hellen Ageng'a and Ms. Racheal Komu, were also awarded for their outstanding performance.
The University of Nairobi extends congratulations to all staff members who, in their individual capacities, contribute to the core mission of providing quality university education and training while embodying the aspirations of the Kenyan people and the global community through the creation, preservation, integration, transmission, and utilization of knowledge. The annual staff performance recognition award ceremony serves as a testament to the university's commitment to recognizing and rewarding excellence.
Watch the livestream of the event here
