Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku is cracking the whip on abseenteism and lateness in public service, warning civil servants that the government will no longer tolerate such behaviour in public offices.
In a surprise tour of the Central Regional Headquarters in Nyeri on Tuesday morning, CS Ruku announced that chronic absentees who report late to work will now be treated as ghost workers. He reiterated that such actions weaken the integrity and efficiency of government service delivery.
“All absentees and latecomers in the public service will be treated as ghost workers,” Ruku said,
The CS, who has increased surprise visits to government offices nationwide, listed concern about declining work ethic among civil servants. He reemphasized the seriousness of the government in upholding discipline, accountability, and good public service culture.
“There is a need to bring back the public service working culture under the prevailing conditions to enhance service delivery to Kenyans,” he noted. “Many Kenyans seeking government services arrive early, only to find offices closed or staff missing.”
During his Nyeri visit, Ruku pointed out a stark contrast in punctuality across departments. While the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Huduma Centre staff recorded an impressive 98–100% punctuality rate, attendance in other government offices was below 50% as of 8:00 a.m.—the official reporting time.
As stated in the 2016 Public Service Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual, public servants work 40 hours a week on weekdays. The regular working day is between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., with Mombasa and northern Kenya offices beginning somewhat earlier at 7:30 a.m. to cater to regional demands.
In response to the poor attendance rates, Ruku announced that his ministry will now strictly enforce official working hours. Human resource officers stationed across public institutions will be tasked with monitoring compliance and taking corrective action where necessary.
He emphasized that every public servant must take their role seriously, noting that consistent delays not only reflect poorly on individual departments but also erode public trust in government services.
“The Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes will take necessary measures to enforce compliance, guided by the outcomes of these field inspections,” he stated.
Ruku warned that such officers risk being disciplined, with possible legal sanctions in case of gross misconduct. He assured that the government is still committed to reducing bureaucracy, eliminating the ghost workers, and regaining public trust in state institutions.
