Ruku urges public servants to cut unnecessary travel and focus on delivery
By Kenneth Mwenda, August 21, 2025Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has called on senior government managers to reduce unnecessary travel and per diem-driven activities, urging them instead to focus on effective, citizen-centred service delivery.
Speaking at Ole Sereni in Nairobi on Thursday, August 21, 2025, during the induction of senior managers at the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development, Ruku stressed that senior managers are the “engine of implementation” for President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). He said their leadership is vital for delivering tangible results for citizens.
“We all love money, and I understand that training is important. But the issue of per diem is not helping us. Let’s minimise travel and focus on impactful service,” he said.
He noted that excessive travel, whether for training or conferences, has been widespread across government, including in ministries, the judiciary, and Parliament. He gave an example of the Judicial Service Commission spending two weeks in the United States for training.
Ruku emphasised the importance of being present at workstations and taking responsibility for achieving results.
“Let’s be honest, we are constrained financially, and the time available for what we are supposed to achieve is limited. We need to prioritise our duties and work efficiently,” he said.
He also shared that he accepted a pay cut to serve as Cabinet Secretary, highlighting the need for public servants to make sacrifices for the nation’s future.
Technology to boost accountability
In addition to urging reduced travel, Ruku earlier outlined plans to improve accountability and productivity through technology. He revealed that the government had been developing an application to track civil servants’ work hours, attendance, and leave status in real time.
The app, expected to be live by the end of October, will monitor punctuality and productivity, ensuring that absenteeism and laxity are addressed across government offices.
Ruku said the initiative aims to raise standards across the public service and strengthen integrity, professionalism, and accountability. He warned that disciplinary measures, such as locking out late staff, would continue until full compliance is achieved.
Principal Secretary Jane Imbunya, who led the induction sessions, encouraged managers to revisit their department mandates and sharpen their tools for effective service delivery. The induction, themed “Aligning the Public Service for Accelerated Service Delivery”, focused on reforms, digitisation, ethical leadership, capacity building, and employee wellness.
Ruku concluded by reminding senior managers that citizens judge government by results.
“Without your commitment and action, even the best plans amount to nothing. You are the people who can help the President achieve the nation’s transformation goals,” he said.