Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku on Thursday was shocked by the poor state of service delivery in government offices in Garissa after finding many offices closed and employees absent from work.
The Cabinet Secretary, who traveled to Garissa on Wednesday night, arrived at the regional offices in the morning only to find empty seats and locked doors.
The building housing several government offices had only one officer present when CS Ruku’s convoy arrived.
“I am very disappointed this morning. I am at the offices coordinating all services in this region, but nothing is going on. All government offices that are supposed to open at 7:30 a.m. are still closed,” he said.
According to CS Ruku, the 2016 public service guidelines require all government offices in the North Eastern region to open at 7:30 a.m. and close for a two-hour lunch break before work resumes at 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The two-hour break is meant to allow Muslims to observe prayer sessions.
The North Eastern Regional Commissioner, John Otieno, who was absent at the time, was reportedly in Wajir overseeing preparations for the Madaraka Day celebrations scheduled for June 1, 2026.
The Cabinet Secretary said there was no excuse for public servants to relax in service delivery while the government had already increased their salaries.
“All public servants must remain committed to their work. Your salaries were increased in January this year and backdated to July 1, 2025,” he said.
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