Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku arrived at government offices in Garissa expecting a normal working morning. Instead, he found locked doors, empty desks and frustrated residents waiting for services that had not begun hours after official reporting time.
The Public Service Cabinet Secretary, on a surprise inspection tour of offices in Kenya’s North Eastern region on Wednesday morning, expressed anger over what he described as a growing culture of lateness and absenteeism in the civil service.
At the Garissa Regional Offices, Mr Ruku said only one officer had reported to work by 8 a.m., despite public servants being required to begin work earlier.
“It is unacceptable for wananchi to arrive early seeking government services only to find empty offices and unattended desks,” he told officials during the visit. “Kenyans deserve timely, efficient and quality services.”
The inspection also covered the Huduma Centre in Garissa, where residents had queued for assistance while several service points remained unattended.
Mr Ruku warned that disciplinary measures would be taken against officers and human resource managers who fail to enforce government regulations on attendance and professionalism.
“The President is keen on ensuring effective service delivery as enshrined in the Constitution,” he said. “Moving forward, the Ministry will take stern action against officers unwilling to work in accordance with public service regulations.”
The Cabinet Secretary reminded staff that public service guidelines require officers to report by 7:30 a.m., with scheduled breaks for lunch and prayers later in the day.
His remarks come amid increasing scrutiny of public service delivery across the country, particularly in remote regions where residents often travel long distances to access government offices.
Mr Ruku argued that poor attendance was undermining recent efforts by the government to improve working conditions for civil servants through salary reviews and enhanced allowances.
“The government has already improved the welfare of public servants,” he said. “There is therefore no reason for officers not to offer quality and timely services to Kenyans.”
He described taxpayers as “prepaid customers”, saying citizens deserved value for the taxes they contribute to fund public institutions.
“These are prepaid customers who have already paid for government services through taxes,” he said. “They should receive value for their money through quality service delivery.”
The Cabinet Secretary also urged public officers to uphold constitutional principles of accountability, integrity and responsiveness while carrying out their duties.
President William Ruto’s administration has repeatedly pledged to improve efficiency in public offices, though complaints about delays, absenteeism and poor service remain common in many parts of the country.
For residents waiting outside government offices in Garissa on Wednesday morning, the delays were more than an administrative concern. Some had arrived before sunrise hoping to secure services early and return home before the heat of the day intensified. Instead, many were left waiting.
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