CS Geoffrey Ruku Threatens Action Against Public Servants Skipping Work Ahead of Christmas

CS Geoffrey Ruku Threatens Action Against Public Servants Skipping Work Ahead of Christmas

Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku has threatened disciplinary action against public servants after finding several employees absent from their workstations during an impromptu visit to government offices in Kajiado County.

Ruku conducted the inspection on Monday, November 2, following reports of laxity among government workers. He arrived after 9am to establish whether employees were reporting to work and providing services as required.

The Cabinet Secretary said the visit was intended to verify concerns about staff attendance and assess whether government operations were running normally.

“I have arrived here in Kajiado to ensure that government employees, those working for the central government, are performing their duties properly. I received some reports suggesting a certain level of laxity, and I wanted to verify whether these claims, that there is laxity here in Kajiado, are true or not,” Ruku stated.

According to the CS, he found that most of the public servants were missing from their workstations, with only a handful reportedly present during the inspection.

He expressed concern over the apparent lack of supervision, saying officers responsible for monitoring staff attendance were also absent.

Ruku Targets Human Resource Officers

Ruku singled out human resource managers, arguing that they were expected to ensure employees reported to work and that accurate attendance records were maintained.

The CS said he would take action against two officers in Kajiado and pursue disciplinary measures against other senior staff linked to the reported lapses.

“Furthermore, I have discovered that the human resource managers, those responsible for ensuring that everyone reports to their office and for providing accurate reports, are also absent. Regarding those under the Ministry of Public Service, which I oversee as Minister. I will ensure that I take immediate action today to guarantee that operations are conducted properly,” he added.

The proposed action comes amid efforts to enforce accountability in public offices and ensure government employees remain available to serve citizens during official working hours.

Public servants are expected to follow established attendance requirements, while supervisors and human resource officers are responsible for monitoring compliance and addressing unexplained absences.

However, the reported absences during the Kajiado inspection do not, on their own, establish whether the affected employees had authorised leave or other approved reasons for being away.

Ruku did not provide the names of the officers he intended to discipline or specify the precise penalties they would face.

CS Warns Workers Against Early Christmas Leave

Beyond the Kajiado inspection, Ruku reminded public servants that the Christmas holiday period had not started and urged them to continue performing their duties until they were authorised to take leave.

His warning comes as employees may begin making arrangements for the end-of-year holiday season, when government offices often experience changes in staffing and service schedules.

The government’s official Christmas public holidays in 2026 fall on Friday, December 25, and Saturday, December 26.

However, the gazetted holidays do not automatically grant public servants additional days away from work. Any extra leave must follow approved departmental arrangements and applicable public service procedures.

Employees are therefore expected to continue reporting for duty unless they have been granted authorised leave or are covered by an official government directive.

Public Services Expected to Continue During Holidays

Ruku’s warning highlights the importance of maintaining public services as the country approaches the festive season.

Government offices provide essential services, including administrative support, documentation and other services that citizens may need throughout the year. Unexplained staff absences can disrupt operations and increase waiting times for members of the public.

The working arrangements for teachers differ from those of many other public servants because school schedules follow the Ministry of Education’s academic calendar.

Term Three ended on October 23, marking the start of the scheduled school break. However, some teachers involved in national examinations may continue working during the examination period.

Ruku’s latest warning signals a renewed focus on attendance and supervision within government offices. The planned disciplinary measures in Kajiado will depend on the relevant administrative procedures and the circumstances surrounding the reported absences.

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CS Geoffrey Ruku Threatens Action Against Public Servants Skipping Work Ahead of Christmas