Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has issued a firm directive to all government employees, warning that habitual lateness and absenteeism will no longer be tolerated. During a surprise inspection at the Central Regional Headquarters in Nyeri on Tuesday, Ruku declared that public officers failing to report to work on time will henceforth be categorized as ghost workers.

“All absentees and latecomers in the public service will be treated as ghost workers,” Ruku stated, emphasizing that the government will not compromise on discipline and accountability in the public sector. He noted that such behavior compromises the dignity and efficiency of service delivery to citizens.

Ruku, who has intensified unannounced visits to government offices nationwide, raised alarm over declining work ethic and poor attendance in many departments. He pointed out that Kenyans often arrive early to access services, only to encounter closed offices or absent staff.

In contrast, he praised the punctuality levels at the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Huduma Centre in Nyeri, where staff attendance stood at an impressive 98–100%. However, other departments recorded less than 50% attendance by 8:00 a.m.—the official reporting time according to the 2016 Public Service Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual.

The manual prescribes a 40-hour work week for public officers, with standard hours running from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., except in Mombasa and northern counties where work starts at 7:30 a.m.

CS Ruku announced that his ministry, through deployed HR officers, will begin strict enforcement of attendance rules across all government institutions. He warned that repeated non-compliance could lead to disciplinary actions, including legal consequences for gross misconduct.

This initiative forms part of the government’s broader reforms to streamline public service, eliminate ghost workers, and restore public trust in government institutions.