In a bold move to improve efficiency and accountability across public offices, the government is developing a digital app to monitor civil servants’ productivity and attendance of all civil servants.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku announced the upcoming system during a visit to the Eastern Region headquarters in Embu Town on Monday.
The application, set to go live by the end of October, will track staff clock-in and clock-out times, leave records, and real-time attendance.
“We must raise our standards to serve the people better,” Ruku said. “Lateness and laxity will no longer be tolerated in government offices.”
Calling the system a “game changer”, Ruku said the initiative is designed to fight chronic absenteeism and enhance transparency in the public sector.
The move mirrors practices commonly seen in the private sector, where companies use software like Hubstaff and Teramind to manage remote teams, track work hours, and improve productivity.
Ruku noted that public servants must adopt the same level of discipline and performance if Kenya is to achieve meaningful progress.
“People in the private sector understand that success requires hard work. Public servants must match that energy if we are serious about national transformation,” he said.
During his visit, the CS cited a worrying trend: while employees at the Huduma Centre and Immigration Department in Embu reported to work early, the Lands Department had just one staff member and a cleaner present by 8 a.m.
“That’s unacceptable. We cannot condone such negligence,” Ruku emphasized. “Public officers must take responsibility.”
As part of efforts to enforce punctuality, some latecomers were locked out of their offices a measure Ruku said will continue until full compliance is achieved.
The monitoring app, once operational, is expected to be a critical tool in fostering a culture of accountability and productivity in the public sector aligning public service delivery with the expectations of Kenyan citizens.