The Kenyan government is in the final stages of rolling out a public servant monitoring app, a new digital platform aimed at enhancing discipline and efficiency across government offices.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku on Monday confirmed that the application will be launched in October. It will track arrival and departure times, monitor leave status, and provide real-time data on staff attendance across various departments.
“This is a game changer in public service management,” said CS Ruku. “Lateness and laxity will no longer be tolerated in government offices.”
He made the remarks during an early morning surprise inspection at the Eastern Region Headquarters in Embu, where he found inconsistencies in staff punctuality. While some departments such as the Immigration Office and Huduma Centre had staff present before 8am, others — including the Lands Department — had barely opened their doors.
“I found only one staff member and a cleaner on duty in one department. That is unacceptable,” he said.
Some latecomers were locked out of their offices, with the CS warning that similar action would be taken in future to enforce discipline. “We must raise our standards in order to serve the people better,” he said.
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The Kenya public servant monitoring app is part of a broader reform agenda to improve service delivery and instil accountability in the public sector. CS Ruku compared the work ethic in the public service with that of the private sector, noting that traffic on Thika Road is already heavy by 6am — a sign, he said, that many Kenyans understand success requires early effort.
“Public servants must match that energy if we are serious about national transformation,” he added.
Ruku further urged government employees to adhere to the Human Resource Procedures and Manual (2016), which outlines ethical conduct and performance expectations in the civil service. “We cannot demand respect from the citizens we serve if we are not disciplined ourselves,” he said.
The CS also appealed to residents in Embu to collect unclaimed passports and national ID cards, many of which are still lying at the Huduma Centre.
He emphasised that such inspections will not be a one-off: “This is a continuous exercise. Kenyans deserve efficient and timely services from their government.”
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