Kenya's Public Service Faces Crackdown on Absenteeism and Lateness

In a decisive move to address pervasive issues of absenteeism and tardiness within Kenya's public sector, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku has vowed to enforce stringent measures against civil servants. 

Ruku's announcement follows a recent inspection at the Central Regional Headquarters in Nyeri, where he observed significant lapses in punctuality among senior staff. The inspection highlighted a concerning disparity: interns and students on attachment consistently arrive on time, while many permanent employees do not. 

This discrepancy, Ruku argues, reflects a growing culture of complacency among experienced civil servants. He has termed those who fail to report to work or arrive late as "ghost workers", signalling the government's intent to eliminate such practices. Ruku emphasises that punctuality is a baseline expectation for all public servants, irrespective of their rank or tenure. Citing examples from offices in Mombasa, Nakuru and Nyeri, he notes stark differences in attendance across various departments. 

The Teachers Service Commission and Huduma Centre demonstrated near-complete staff presence, while other departments reported attendance rates below fifty percent. The CS's criticism extends beyond mere lateness, addressing broader concerns about work ethic and the delivery of essential services. 

"Many Kenyans seeking government services arrive early, only to find offices closed," Ruku said via X, calling for a return to the values that once defined the civil service. 

He pledges the rollout of attendance registers and renewed staff appraisal mechanisms to ensure accountability across departments. This is not Ruku’s first recent intervention. Three weeks prior, he ordered the gates of Nakuru’s regional headquarters locked promptly at 8.00am, barring latecomers—a symbolic move reflecting his uncompromising stance on timekeeping. 

According to the Public Service Human Resource Manual, civil servants are expected to begin work at 8.00am and commit to a 40-hour week, with official hours in specific regions like Mombasa and Northern Kenya commencing at 7.30am.