A surprise visit by Cabinet Secretary Ruku to government offices in Garissa has uncovered serious issues, including locked offices during working hours and absent staff.
The early morning inspection has sparked concern over service delivery and discipline among public officers in the region.
The CS, who had not announced the visit in advance, arrived at several county government and national government service offices expecting to find workers on duty serving members of the public.
Instead, he was met with closed doors, empty desks, and little sign of normal operations in some departments.
According to officials who accompanied him, the visit was meant to assess how government services are being delivered at the grassroots level and to identify challenges affecting efficiency. However, what was discovered raised more questions than answers.
In several offices, doors were locked during official working hours. In others, staff members were missing without clear explanations.
Some officers who were found on site reportedly struggled to explain the absence of their colleagues or why services were not running as expected.
The situation did not sit well with the CS, who expressed disappointment over what he described as a clear failure in responsibility and public service duty.
He warned that disciplinary action could follow against officers who were found to have neglected their work.
He emphasized that government employees are paid to serve citizens and must respect working hours. According to him, the public depends on these services for important needs such as documentation, administrative support, and access to government programs.
Any disruption, he said, directly affects ordinary people who may travel long distances seeking help.
Residents in Garissa who were hoping to access services were also frustrated. Some said they had arrived early in the morning only to find offices closed or staff unavailable.
Others complained that such situations are not new and that they often experience delays when seeking government assistance.
The CS noted that absenteeism and poor discipline among some public officers undermine the government’s efforts to improve service delivery.
He said that surprise inspections will continue in different regions to ensure accountability and to restore public trust in government institutions.
He also urged supervisors and senior officers in the affected offices to take responsibility for ensuring that their teams adhere to work schedules.
According to him, leadership within departments plays a key role in maintaining discipline and ensuring that services are delivered efficiently.
While addressing local officials, he made it clear that the government will not tolerate negligence.
He warned that repeated violations could lead to suspensions, transfers, or other disciplinary measures depending on the findings of follow-up investigations.
The incident has sparked discussions among residents and leaders in the region. Some have welcomed the CS’s move, saying it exposes long-standing problems that need urgent attention.
Others, however, argue that deeper structural issues such as understaffing and poor supervision may also be contributing to the problem and should be addressed alongside disciplinary action.
As investigations continue, the Ministry is expected to release further details on the findings of the visit and the actions to be taken.
For now, the surprise inspection has sent a strong message that absenteeism and negligence in public offices will not be ignored.
The CS is expected to carry out similar unannounced visits in other counties as part of a wider effort to improve efficiency and restore accountability in public service delivery across the country.
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