Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has issued a stern warning to civil servants across the country, declaring that habitual absenteeism and chronic lateness will no longer be tolerated in government offices. 

Speaking during an impromptu inspection at the Central Regional Headquarters in Nyeri on Tuesday morning, CS Ruku announced that public officers who fail to report to duty on time will henceforth be treated as ghost workers.

“All absentees and latecomers in the public service will be treated as ghost workers,” Ruku stated, emphasizing that such conduct undermines the dignity and efficiency of service delivery to the public.

Ruku, who has recently intensified unannounced visits to government offices in various counties, expressed concern over the erosion of work ethic among public servants. He said the government is committed to restoring discipline and accountability within the public sector.

“There is a need to bring back the public service working culture under the prevailing conditions to enhance service delivery to Kenyans,” he said. “Many Kenyans seeking government services arrive early, only to find offices closed or staff missing.”

During his Nyeri inspection, Ruku revealed a stark contrast in punctuality among different departments. Staff at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Huduma Centre recorded a commendable 98–100% punctuality. However, attendance across other government departments stood at less than 50% as of 8:00 a.m., the official reporting time as per the 2016 Public Service Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual.

The manual stipulates a 40-hour work week for public officers, running Monday through Friday. Standard hours are 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in most regions, with Mombasa and northern counties operating slightly earlier, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

In response to the findings, Ruku said his ministry, through deployed human resource officers, will begin strict enforcement of attendance policies across all government institutions.

“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 further warned that failure to adhere to these standards could attract disciplinary action, including legal consequences for gross misconduct. The move aligns with a broader effort by the government to streamline operations, eliminate ghost workers, and enhance public confidence in state institutions.