Nicodemus Odongo

Achievements

1) Planned and executed outreach and stakeholder programmes that tripled the principal members (core NHIF customers) steadily from 3 million in 2015 to 10.6 million in June 2021, with resultant revenue collection steadily increasing from kshs.9 billion in 2014/15 to over kshs.65 billion in 2021.

2) Planned, designed and implemented a robust NHIF member registration drive, public education and stakeholder’s engagement by strategic marketing and policy research.

3) Designed and rolled out self-care portals as revolutionary steps towards enhancing service delivery in 2019/20 period. These self-care portals are: the USSD *155#, My NHIF, and the self-care portal in on our website www.nhif.or.ke to bring services closer to our members. The impact of this was that from January/February 2020 members could now Register, check their status, choose new, confirm existing, or change their outpatient facilities at the touch of a button.

4) Established Research and Policy department within my directorate in 2016 and developed new and reviewed policy guidelines for the directorates/ departments to the entire organisation to facilitate the implementation of the existing ones. Users were engaged in rigorous consultative meetings as part of capacity building.

5) Planned and successfully re-organized internal processes in 2019/2020 to professionalize the then decentralized benefits pre-authorization model, among others, to be more effective and responsive to customer needs, thus turning-around the process and achieving over kshs.2 billion reduction in claims costs.

6) Led and spearheaded operational changes by fully participating in the Health Financing Reforms Expert Panel (HEFREP) Committee of Experts (2019) and delivered one of the robust and bold reform documents being used currently for NHIF reforms. The report objectively identified gaps that, if addressed, can transform and reposition NHIF as a strategic purchaser of health services for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage. This report ought to be received as constructive criticism and a word of caution to help the Fund enhance our capacity to deliver effectively on our mandate.

I remain a change agent as demonstrateted in my role in the Hefrep Report for NHIF Reforms (2019/2020).

7) Led and successfully spearheaded the implementation and monitoring of 2014/18 and 2018/2022 Strategic Plans through the Annual Work Plans and Performance contracts (PC). During these periods, the corporate performance outcome consistently improved from 80% in 2014/15, to over 95% in 2019/20. PC performance has been ‘Very Good’ for the whole period making NHIF among the top performing parastatal under the MOH and in government.

8) Delivered beyond the target on National Government UHC pilot member registration in 2019. This was one of the hardest National Government tasks of registering residents of the four pilot UHC counties of Kisumu, Nyeri, Machakos and Isiolo and issuing them with cards within a record three months. Despite the serious challenges facing the Fund in 2018/19 and the very tight deadlines, I managed to register 2.9 Million members out of the total population of 3.2 Million residents of the four counties. This was well above the government target of 80% registration.

9) Managed and Professionally steered the NHIF for one-and-half years as the CEO (Acting) responsible to the Board during 2018-2020 period, and ensuring continued operations of member registration, claims payments, My composure and knowledge of the Fund plus my ability to restore hope for continued service delivery helped the NHIF to continue offering services uninterrupted. I led the stabilisation of the staff team amidst the 2018/19 crisis to start regaining the NHIF brand public trust.

10) Proactively led the response to corona virus pandemic in 2020 through formation of interdepartmental corona response committee which worked tirelessly to drive interventions to minimise the corona impact in the Fund. This drastic and timely initiative ensured the NHIF continued with its activities uninterrupted despite the close down that affected a number of organisations including the public sector.

Job Descriptions

Ø Responsible to the Chief Executive Officer and Board on matters pertaining to: Strategy formulation and implementation; Planning and periodic reporting: Performance Contracting; Monitoring and Evaluation; Research and Statistics; Marketing, Corporate Communications; Customer Service, Public Information and Education.

Ø Specific mandates entail:

· Spearheading and coordinating the development of the Fund’s national health Insurance corporate strategy and implementation of programmes and projects in liaison and partnership with all stakeholders, management and board

· Leading and guiding the process of analysing key performance indicators for the formulation of departmental plans, programs and activities aligned to the corporate Mission and Governmental priorities

· Overseeing the performance contracting process in liaison with the Ministry of Health and represent the Corporation in the annual evaluations

· Guiding the development of integrated marketing communications and public relations plans and strategies and monitor marketing events for impact.

· Providing guidelines on the establishment, analysis, storage and reporting of vital statistics on the Fund’s performance in core mandate of registration, revenue collection and claims settlement

· Initiating and rolling out effective communication of corporate strategies, policies and programmes to the Corporation’s staff in liaison with departmental heads for buy-in and implementation

· Spearheading the design of suitable tools for research and the reporting format of analysed data to facilitate decision making

· Planning and coordinating the rollout of public education and awareness programmes to increase visibility of the Corporation’s activities and available heath insurance benefits to Citizens

Served as Acting CEO, NHIF from November 2018 to April 2020, with the overall responsibility of providing strategic leadership in the planning, execution, implementation and monitoring of corporate functions and mandate of the Fund and advise to the Board.

Achievements:

1) Planned and implemented cost cutting measures specifically reorganised insurance benefits pre-authorisation approvals from decentralised to centalised with less staff but huge efficiency and reducing the risk of wastage by over kshs.2.0 Billion within 6 months.

2) Improved efficiency in operations by strengthening regional managmenet offices to tighten supervision on the entire nationwide branch offices network comprising over 150 branches.

3) Planned and turned round claims processing backlog and risk due to faults in the e-claim processing. Stopped it in August 2019 for remodification to intervene of leakages before reopening in 2020 having been reformed and tightened

4) Enhanced the NHIF Brand portfolio through standardization of all outreaches, stakeholders engagements and out of office engaments by use of branded mechandise, tents, tables, among others.

5) Created and enhanced the use of data driven decision making by creating a business intelligence unit to process and analyse operational and intelligence data on regular intervals.

6) Created and nurtured working managmenet teams for specific tasks and regular managmenet and leadership meetings for cascading and feedback

7) Enhanced managmenet and leadership synergies in the whole organisation through improved supervision, capacity develpment, mentorship and coaching.

Director RCPP & Deputy Commission Secretary/ CEO

Responsibilities

Ø Worked as acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer assisting the Chief Executive Officer to run the Salaries and Remuneration Commission in fulfillment of its Constitutional mandate and functions. In addition, I was a Director Research, Compliance, Policy and Planning where my overall responsibility w as to develop and lead the implementation and monitoring of a comprehensive Research and compliance strategy by providing high quality research information and advice to the Commission for policy planning and compliance in line with its mandate. I am a member of Top Management team providing technical leadership for the core mandate of the Commission in addition to administrative duties including financial approvals.

Core duties and Responsibilities

· Assisting the CEO in ensuring the Commission has a long-range strategy which achieves its Mission, and towards which it makes consistent and timely progress.

· Seeing that the Commission is kept fully informed on the condition of the SRC and all-important factors influencing its mandates and functions

· Assisting the CEO in her responsibility in the day- to-day management of the Commission affairs

· Providing leadership and strategic direction in developing program, organizational and financial plans with the Commission and staff, and carry out plans and policies authorized by the Commission.

· Alternate accounting officer of the Commission;

· facilitating and recommending to the Commission the long-term strategies, business plans and annual operating budgets and establishing proper internal monitoring and control systems and procedures;

· Implement and review the strategic plan to advance the organization’s vision, mission and objectives;

· Ensure compliance and implementation of the Salaries and Remuneration Act, 2012 and other national and international instruments relevant to SRC;

· Collaborate with key local, international partners and other stakeholders to promote the rights and development of remuneration and benefits in the public service;

· Oversee the implementation of organization operational procedures, policies and standards;

· Oversee operations of the Commission including management of the Commission assets including Human, Financial and other resources;

· Ensure that annual systems Audit is conducted, and recommendations addressed;

· Ensure continuous improvement in the quality and value of services and products provided by the Commission;

· Fostering a corporate culture that promotes ethical practices and good corporate citizenship;

· Developing, motivating, deploying and retaining talented staff of the Commission through succession management, performance appraisal and personal development

· Developing and strengthening local and international partnerships for the Commission work

· Mobilizing of resources, deploying and effective utilization of the same

· Undertaking any other duties as may be directed by the CEO and /or the Commission.

Achievements:

a) Designed and operationalized scientific quantitative model for determination of remuneration levels in the public service

b) Instituted robust research and analysis systems for remuneration determination for different sectors of the economy.

c) Instituted compliance mechanism for Monitoring and Evaluation of the SRC regulations across public service

d) Developed comprehensive Remuneration and Benefits Policy for the public service

e) Developed various attraction and retention policies for the public service including comprehensive medical schemes, unique car loans schemes and mortgage facilities.

Ø Worked as a Deputy Director in Parliamentary Service Commission. My area of specialization is Public Financial Management, Financial and Economic Policy, Research, Planning, Strategy Formulation, Tax Policy and Administration, Economic and Financial Analysis.

Ø My specific roles/responsibilities include:

· Deputized the Director and provided leadership in Policy research & analysis, Planning, Legislative Advice, strategy formulation, planning and analysis.

· Coordinated the implementation of operational/business plans and budgets for the directorates in line with the objectives set out in the Corporate Strategic Plan, monitoring and evaluating the plans.

· Analysed, and disseminated key information on national economic performance including trends and suggested necessary changes.

· Coordinated stakeholders and donors on relevant areas for policy changes with huge impact on Kenyans economic performance.

· Prepared and disseminated reports and policy briefings for Members of Parliament various committees on Financial Sector, Infrastructure sector, Social sector among other for improved committee business in the house

. Introduced regular briefings and publication on topical issues affecting macroeconomic policies and performance in Kenya

· Preparation of reports on economic forecasts and projections with options (budget options).

· Designing and executing researches and policy analytic studies on thematic areas particularly economic and financial sector.

· Deputizing the KRA’s QMS Manager and helping in providing leadership in implementation of the QMS programme, policy analysis, strategy formulation, planning and analysis.

· Coordinated Quality Management Programme (QMP – ISO 9001:2000) in Kenya Revenue Authority leading to the achievement of ISO 9001:2000 certification of the Authority in 2007.

· Mobilized and trained over 4,000 staff in KRA while leading a team of QMS trainers. The staff quickly embraced Quality Management Systems requirements leading to ISO 9001:2000 Certification.

· Leading the strategy formulation for mapping KRA business, documentation of all systems and preparing all functions for ISO certification as per plan.

Excellent coordination of Quality Management Systems and training of staff on Quality Management Programme (QMP – ISO 9001:2000) in Kenya Revenue Authority leading to the achievement of ISO 9001:2000 certification of the Authority in 2007.

· Established proper and clean transport databases of all operational activities thus enhancing planning processes both within KRA, and with stakeholders. This lead to timely revenue recovery and excellent service delivery.

· Designed and Established Statistical functions including managing databases, preparation of timely reports, transmission of reports to various stakeholders, and supervising other staff members

· Designed and carried out policy research on Heavy Commercial Vehicles Industry in Kenya – Regulation or Deregulation? , a research commissioned by Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA)

o Analysis of budgetary/fiscal policy decisions and administrative initiatives to aid in decision making

o Statistical functions including managing databases, preparation of timely reports, transmission of reports to various stakeholders, and supervising other staff members

Designed and Established Statistical functions including managing databases, preparation of timely reports, transmission of reports to various stakeholders, and supervising other staff members.

Ø Two (2) years job experience as accountant/ Finance Officer with Colgate Palmolive (E.A.) Ltd in finance and accounting department.

o Responsible for Financial data, production budgeting, Stock controls, Variance Analysis and investigation thereof.

o As the in charge of costing and statistics, introduced and incorporated statistics for proper data collection, analysis and interpretation for studying and forecasting trade trends and taking necessary precaution (Colgate Palmolive Ltd)

o Achievements: