CS Ruku Directs HR Managers to Enforce Discipline Among Civil Servants

Government Offices Told to Keep Communication Channels Active

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has directed government ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure that their communication channels remain active and accessible to the public, warning that inactive systems undermine effective service delivery.

Speaking during an inspection tour of government offices in Kisumu on Thursday, January 29, Ruku said Kenyans deserve timely services and reliable communication from public institutions. He noted that closed offices and unresponsive official email addresses create frustration and damage public trust.

Functional Contact Details

The Cabinet Secretary instructed all government offices to ensure that their published contact details are functional and attended to during official working hours. He warned that non-functional email addresses and communication platforms should either be fixed or removed from official websites.

“If government offices display email addresses, those emails must be operational. If they are not working, they should be removed from websites because citizens send messages but receive no response,” Ruku said.

Concern Over Lateness Among Civil Servants

Ruku also raised concerns about lateness among civil servants, emphasising that punctuality and responsiveness should become a core culture across the public service. According to him, reporting to work on time is essential for improving efficiency and helping citizens plan their activities.

“Kenyans expect us to be in our offices at the right time so that services are delivered without delays. When officers fail to report on time, it sends the wrong message,” he added.

Immigration Department Praised for Punctuality

Ruku praised the State Department for Immigration for maintaining high standards of punctuality, noting that officers in regional offices he visited in Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyeri, and Embu were already at their workstations by 8 a.m. He urged other departments to adopt similar standards of discipline and responsiveness.

HR Managers Ordered to Strengthen Discipline

Additionally, the CS instructed human resource managers under the Ministry of Public Service to strengthen enforcement of discipline and accountability among civil servants. He reiterated that official communication channels must be monitored regularly and responded to promptly.