By Our Correspondent | Wajir Today | Thursday May 7, 2026
The Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku has criticised what he described as widespread absenteeism among public servants in Garissa after conducting an impromptu inspection of regional and county government offices, where he found most workstations deserted during official working hours.
Speaking after the visit, the CS said only a handful of officers were present in the offices, raising concerns over service delivery in the northeastern region.
“I did not find many public servants in the offices,” the Cabinet Secretary said. “I want to thank the police officers because they were at their duty stations guarding the buildings, and I also found a cashier in the office of the regional commissioner. But the rest of the offices were empty.”
The remarks are likely to renew scrutiny over public service accountability in Kenya’s marginalised regions, where residents often complain about delays in accessing government services.
According to the CS, more than 10 members of the public were stranded at the regional offices waiting to be served, with no officers available by the time he left the premises.
“Those of us who have been given work by the government and the people of Kenya to serve citizens seem to be complacent and unwilling to adhere to the principles and values of public service,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary cited the Human Resources Procedures Manual of 2016, which requires public servants working in northeastern and coastal regions to report to duty at 7:30 a.m., break for lunch at 12:30 p.m., resume work at 2:30 p.m., and close offices at 4:30 p.m.
He urged civil servants across the region to observe official working hours and prioritise service delivery to wananchi.
The surprise inspection comes amid growing pressure on government institutions to improve efficiency and accountability in public offices.
Garissa residents have in recent years raised concerns over delays in accessing services in some public offices, with absenteeism as a major challenge.
