Abstract

Improving productivity and performance of public service employees and supporting strategic institutional development are key goals and challenges facing the Kenyan Parliament as it proceeds to implement monumental constitutional reform. Working with the Kenyan Center for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST), the University at Albany’s Professional Development Program (PDP) conducted a series of interactive policy-to-practice workshops assisting Parliamentary staff members in carrying out their new mandates to effectively improve government services across Kenya as the new constitution is implemented. By working collaboratively with CPST, PDP was able to identify new protocols that staff members needed to successfully change practices in conducting parliamentary business. Common concerns of staff began to materialize as they re-evaluated their current practices and begin to deal with their new role, identity, and ability to implement change in a devolved system of governance. Evidence-based practice was introduced to determiner effectiveness in establishing professional staff departments, dealing with concerns resulting from doubling professional staff and improving staff knowledge and skills through training and mentoring programs. The program produced a strategic road map to support Kenya’s transition to a devolved system of government and the findings from this process revealed cautious optimism for government change.