CS Ruku warns civil servants after surprise visit finds empty offices in Garissa
By Emmanuel Rono, May 7, 2026Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Ruku, has issued a warning to civil servants regarding punctuality and dedication to duty after a surprise visit to government offices in Garissa revealed widespread absenteeism.
During an unannounced inspection at the North Eastern Regional Commissioner’s headquarters on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the Cabinet Secretary was met with nearly empty desks in the offices at the region.
Despite the official start of the working day, CS Ruku discovered that only one staff member had reported to work, while a significant number of citizens were already lined up outside waiting for essential services.
“As a minister for public service, I am very disappointed this morning. I am at the regional offices, which coordinate the entire Northeastern region of the Republic of Kenya in Garissa and all the government offices, which are supposed to be opened at 7:30 in the morning as per the human resource procedures manual of 2016, were closed,” Ruku said.
Impact on citizens
CS Ruku noted that the absence of staff had left citizens stranded outside government offices while waiting for services, adding that such conduct undermined public trust in state institutions and inconvenienced taxpayers who depend on government services on a daily basis.
Ruku warned that disciplinary action would be taken against officers found neglecting their duties, saying regional human resource managers had been directed to identify employees who fail to report to work on time for action in line with public service regulations.
Warning to civil servants
The CS reminded public servants that government operations are funded by taxpayers and stressed that Kenyans deserve efficient, timely and reliable services from all public offices across the country. He said the government will take firm action against those failing to follow procedures at government offices.
“We are going to take very stern procedures moving forward, or actions moving forward, especially to this government regional office,” CS Ruku stated. “It can’t be that only one person has reported to work… whereas we can see some Kenyans who are there waiting to be served.”