“I Am Disappointed” Public Service CS Ruku Makes Surprise Visit to Garissa Regional Offices, Finds Staff Absent
GARISSA — Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Geoffrey Ruku, has expressed deep frustration after arriving at the Northeastern regional headquarters in Garissa early this morning to find nearly all government offices still closed — despite the official 7:30 AM reporting time.
In an unannounced inspection of the regional commissioner’s offices, which coordinate government operations across the entire Northeastern region, Ruku found only police officers and a single government officer had reported to work on time. A number of members of the public were already waiting outside, seeking services that no one was available to deliver.
“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.” — CS Geoffrey Ruku
A Pattern Across the Country
Speaking to journalists outside the regional offices, CS Ruku said the situation in Garissa was not an isolated incident. He noted that similar scenes had greeted him during impromptu visits to other regional offices across the country with the notable exception of Huduma Centre, which he said consistently open on time.
The CS made clear that this level of absenteeism is unacceptable, particularly at a time when the government has made significant financial commitments to improve the welfare of civil servants.
Government Has Fulfilled Its End Now It’s Your Turn, CS Tells Civil Servants
Ruku reminded public servants that the Ruto administration had increased civil service salaries in January this year, backdated to July 2024. The increases covered basic pay, commuter allowances, and housing allowances. He also confirmed that a further salary increment is scheduled for 1st July 2026, in line with the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the government and the union of civil servants.
The CS argued that civil servants have a reciprocal obligation to deliver quality service to Kenyans in return.
“Kenyans deserve to be served. Kenyans deserve excellent customer service because they have paid for that service. Through their taxes is where we are getting salaries, and through their taxes is why we have these offices.”
Consequences Ahead
CS Ruku did not mince his words on accountability. He warned that he would be taking serious disciplinary action against the absentee officers, working through human resource managers in the region to identify and act on those who had failed to report to work on time.
He stressed that citizens some of whom had travelled long distances to access government services — must not be made to wait outside locked offices.
“It can’t be that only one person has reported to work. Others have different reasons why they have not reported to work, whereas there are Kenyans who are here waiting to be served,” Ruku said.
What This Means for Northern Kenya
For communities across the Northeastern region including Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties access to government services is already a challenge due to distance and infrastructure. When the regional offices that are meant to bridge that gap fail to open on time, the impact falls hardest on ordinary citizens who have often made significant effort just to get there.
CS Ruku’s visit and public rebuke sends a direct message: accountability in public service delivery is not optional, and the government is watching.
