Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has expressed disappointment after conducting an impromptu early morning inspection at government regional offices in Garissa and finding most offices still closed past official reporting time.
Speaking outside the Northeastern regional headquarters on Friday morning, the CS said only police officers and one officer from the Regional Commissioner’s office had reported to work on time, leaving several wananchi stranded outside waiting for services.
Ruku noted that according to the 2016 Human Resource Procedures Manual, public offices are expected to open by 7:30 a.m., but many officers had failed to report to duty.
“As the minister for Public Service, I am very disappointed this morning. I am at the regional offices coordinating the entire Northeastern region, and all government offices that are supposed to be opened at 7:30 a.m. were closed,” said Ruku.
The CS said the trend of lateness among civil servants had been witnessed in several regions he has visited, except at Huduma Centres, which he praised for consistently opening on time and serving citizens efficiently.
Ruku reminded public servants that the government of President William Ruto had recently improved their salaries and allowances, including commuter and housing allowances, with the increments backdated to July last year. He added that another salary review is expected from July 1, 2026, under the agreement between the government and civil servants’ unions.
He challenged government workers to reciprocate by offering quality and timely services to Kenyans.
“Kenyans deserve excellent customer service because they pay taxes that sustain these offices and salaries. It cannot be that only one person has reported to work while wananchi are waiting outside to be served,” he said.
The CS further warned that disciplinary action would be taken against officers who fail to report to work on time through the region’s human resource management structures.
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