Nairobi: The Government is in the final stages of developing a digital application designed to monitor the productivity of public servants in Kenya. Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku said the application is set to be launched in the month of October this year.
According to Kenya News Agency, the new platform will, among other provisions, track arrival and departure times and leave status. The move aims to enhance efficiency, accountability, and transparency across all government offices. Speaking on Monday during an impromptu early morning inspection at the Eastern Region Headquarters in Embu Town, CS Ruku said the initiative was part of a wider reform agenda to improve service delivery in the public sector.
"We must raise our standards in order to serve the people better. Lateness and laxity will no longer be tolerated in Government offices," he stated. He described the app as a "game changer" in tackling absenteeism and monitoring work output. Drawing comparisons between the public and private sectors, CS Ruku recounted witnessing traffic congestion along Thika Road as early as 6 am, highlighting that most people in the private sector understand that success requires hard work. Public servants must match that energy if national transformation is to be taken seriously, he added.
During his visit, CS Ruku reported significant disparities in punctuality. While Huduma Centre and the Immigration Department impressed him with early reporting, other departments, such as Lands, fell short with only one staff member and a cleaner present by 8 AM. Late-comers caught off guard during the inspection found themselves locked out of their offices, with CS Ruku warning that similar disciplinary measures would continue until full compliance is achieved.
He further called on all civil servants to strictly adhere to the Human Resource Procedures and Manual of 2016, which outlines expected standards of professionalism, ethics, and performance, warning that laxity would not be condoned. "We cannot demand respect from the citizens we serve if we are not disciplined ourselves," he remarked.
The CS also urged residents who had applied for passports at the Eastern Regional Office in Embu to collect them, noting that a significant number remained unclaimed. Similarly, he called on citizens to pick up their National ID cards, many of which remained at the Embu Huduma Centre. He emphasized that his commitment to continued oversight was not a one-off inspection but a continuous exercise to ensure Kenyans receive timely and efficient service from the government.