Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has announced tough new measures to address chronic absenteeism and lateness among public servants, declaring that such staff will be treated as ghost workers. Speaking during an impromptu visit to government offices in Nyeri, CS Ruku decried the growing trend of public officers arriving late or leaving early, often without completing their assigned duties.
“Most of you who are late, I have seen some running away—you are not different from my definition of a ghost worker,” Ruku remarked, expressing frustration with laxity and poor work ethics within the civil service. He noted that some employees arrive as late as 9 a.m. and leave by 11 a.m., contributing little to service delivery while still drawing full salaries funded by taxpayers.
To curb the inefficiency, the CS announced the rollout of daily attendance registers across all government offices, complete with duty schedules. Additionally, Ruku said his ministry will coordinate with supervisors at all administrative levels—sub-county, county, regional, and national—to enforce discipline and accountability.
“Every employee must have a clear schedule of duties and must adhere to the staff performance appraisal system,” he emphasized. He also announced plans for a baseline survey to assess employee satisfaction in ministries and state departments.
Ruku stressed that absenteeism and poor timekeeping cost the government billions of shillings annually. He condemned these practices as a betrayal of public trust and a drain on national resources. “We cannot continue to pay salaries to people who don’t work. We must restore discipline and integrity in public service,” he said.
The CS commended punctual departments such as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Huduma Centre in Nyeri, and interns serving in public offices for setting a positive example. He urged all civil servants to embrace self-discipline, noting that President William Ruto is fully committed to reforming the public sector.
“We have qualified young people crying for jobs across the country. Those unwilling to do their work should step aside,” Ruku concluded.
