PS Visits M&E Directorate

The State Department for Economic Planning Principal Secretary, James Muhati made a familiarization tour of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) offices at Absa Towers in Nairobi on Friday13/1/2023. The main purpose of the visit was to meet with the M&E team for a one on one briefing and to discuss the Mandate, Budget and Staff Welfare of the Directorate.

On arrival at Absa Towers, the PS was received by the M&E Director, Aloyce Ratemo. He then proceeded to tour the Resource Center where the Reports, Handbooks, Guidelines and other Resource Materials are stored and made accessible to the Stakeholders and the general public.

The PS was impressed by the efforts the Directorate has put in place in ensuring that the required documents for the Government Monitoring and Evaluation are produced in good time and availed for dissemination and distribution as required. He encouraged teamwork stating that his office will give the necessary support to the Directorate to continue with the good work.

During the briefing, Director Ratemo informed the PS and his Team that the MED Directorate is mandated with Monitoring and Evaluation of Economic Trends in the Country, contributes to the National and Sectoral Development Planning and coordinates the implementation of the National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation System (NIMES).

He also highlighted the Directorate’s objectives which include, promotion of the culture and practice of Monitoring and Evaluation in the public and private sector, Provision of timely, quality and reliable information for evidence-based decision making and policy formulation and also build adequate capacity to coordinate the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Kenya Vision 2030 and its MTPs/CIDPs.

Mr. Ratemo mentioned some of the functions of the Directorate which includes; Coordination of the development, review and implementation of National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation System (NIMES); Development and implementation of the National M&E Policy framework, Guidelines, Standards and other tools to promote sound M&E practices; Development and maintaining an electronic National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation System(e-NIMES) and others.

He also outlined some of the achievements made so far which includes; provision of County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) Indicator Handbooks to all the Counties; preparation of the County Annual Progress Reports; Electronic M&E System(e-CIMES) which has been rolled out to 45 Counties; County Monitoring and Evaluation Policies and conducting capacity building of County Staff which still are ongoing.

The Director also said that the Directorate has plans for the year such as; Preparation of: The Fourth Annual Progress Report for MTP III by March 2023; Fourth Big ‘Four’Agenda Implementation Status Report by March 2023; the National Reporting Indicator Handbook for MTP IV by June 2023. Others include, enhancing partnerships for M&E through holding of the 11th Kenya M&E Conference/Week by June 2023; development of Action Plan for the M&E Policy as directed by Cabinet, supporting Counties/MDAs in uploading/ updating CIDP III and MTP IV Programmes and projects into the e-NIMES / e-CIMES system.

The PS was accompanied in the familiarization tour by the Economic Planning Secretary Katherine Muoki and the Director of Administration, Joel Makori.