Nairobi: Human Resource (HR) practitioners in the public service have been encouraged to join the Africa Public Sector Human Resource Practitioners Network following the ratification of its Kenyan chapter.
According to Kenya News Agency, the ratification was conducted by the Africa Public Sector Human Resource Managers Network, which encompasses all HR practitioners in Africa's public service. James Wasagami, the Deputy President of the network, stated that the objective is to unite HR practitioners to benchmark and learn from each other within the profession.
Wasagami explained that the network welcomes any HR professional providing human resource services, even in remote areas, to become a member. The Kenyan chapter fulfilled all necessary conditions for ratification after the Principal Secretary for Public Service communicated with the network's president. This led to an executive decision approving the chapter's inclusion.
'The Kenya chapter can now operate fully as a duly recognized member of the Africa Public Sector Human Resource Practitioners network,' Wasagami confirmed. He further explained that ratification allows all HR practitioners in Kenya's public service who meet membership conditions to claim affiliation with the African network.
Wasagami emphasized the need for a local network in Kenya to enhance professional capacity, among other benefits. The network serves as an association for HR service practitioners across Africa's public service. He expressed gratitude to the government for its support, highlighting the collaboration with the Ministry of Public Service.
He underscored the importance of enrolling in such networks, noting the evolution of Human Resource Management (HRM) with digital advancements. This evolution raises expectations from employers, necessitating knowledge exchange among HR professionals. He also pointed out the similarity in public service policies, which facilitates capacity building for HRs, including those in remote areas of Kenya.
Florence Wanguku, Chairperson of the Africa Public Service Sector Human Resource Practitioners Network-Kenyan chapter (APSHRPNET), announced the chapter's ratification and its role in advancing APSHRPNET objectives. 'We are going to be very key and instrumental in serving our different public sector institutions in supporting the public service deliverables in our country and Africa in general,' she stated.
Wanguku highlighted the network's instrumental role in allowing HR professionals to contribute to the discussion of the current human resource bill 2024. 'We have invited members to come and access the bill virtually and we have done a memorandum that is going back to the drafters of the bill,' she added, advocating for a flexible work environment, a lesson reinforced by the post-Covid-19 era.