NAIROBI, Kenya — Human Resource managers across government ministries have been instructed to take disciplinary action against civil servants who report to work late or abscond from duty, as the government steps up efforts to address persistent service delivery failures.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku issued the directive following a series of impromptu inspections of state department offices, citing widespread absenteeism and weak enforcement of discipline by HR officers.
Speaking during visits to government offices at the Nyanza regional headquarters, Ruku said many officers were failing to report to work on time, warning that those who continue to disregard official working hours risk sanctions once government technology systems are fully enforced.
“Officers must pull up their socks before the systems catch up with them,” Ruku said, adding that laxity was undermining public trust in government institutions.
Poor Communication, Empty Offices
The Cabinet Secretary also raised concern over poor communication channels in ministries, saying many official emails and telephone lines listed on government websites are either non-functional or unattended.
Ruku noted that members of the public frequently send inquiries or make calls but receive no response because officers are either absent or not at their desks.
“If emails are not working, they should be removed from our websites. Kenyans are reaching out and getting no feedback,” he said.
To improve accountability, Ruku directed HR managers in state departments to submit monthly reports detailing public inquiries received through telephone calls and other communication platforms.
Immigration Department Praised
During the inspections, Ruku observed that only the State Department of Immigration had all its staff present at their workstations by 8:00 am, describing it as a model other departments should emulate.
He said similar patterns of absenteeism had been noted during earlier visits to government offices in Mombasa, Embu, Nyeri and Nakuru, with most departments recording low staff turnout in the early hours.
“Kenyans pay taxes for these services. When officers are not in their offices on time, we send the wrong signals,” Ruku said, thanking immigration officers in Kisumu for maintaining discipline.
Payroll System Reforms Coming
Ruku said the government is in the process of streamlining the public service payroll system, a move expected to curb absenteeism and ghost workers.
He revealed that the new system — which he said would “shake public service” — is scheduled for implementation by April 2026.
