The government is taking a bold step toward cleaning up the public sector and it starts with showing up for work.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has announced plans to launch a digital System to Monitor Public Servants a platform that will track the attendance and activities of government employees, saying the goal is simple: make public servants more accountable.
Speaking during an interview on KTN Monday evening, Ruku didn’t beat around with his words.
“We don’t even have a proper system that tells us who’s on leave, who’s at work, or who’s simply not showing up. That needs to change urgently,” he said.
The system, still under development, is expected to begin its pilot phase in October. According to Ruku, a team of digital experts has already been brought on board to build and test the platform.
If the pilot meets expectations, it will head to the Cabinet for approval with hopes for a full rollout before the end of the year.
Ruku believes the platform could help uncover and root out long-standing issues in the public service, including ghost workers individuals who receive salaries but don’t actually exist or report to work and lax attendance in key departments.
“If you’re not accountable for your day-to-day work, this system will catch up with you,” he warned. “We have to be accountable to the people of Kenya.”
Beyond monitoring absenteeism, the platform will also track things like sick leave, annual leave, meetings, and general work attendance across ministries, commissions, and parastatals.
Ruku was candid about the culture shift he wants to see.
“It’s time we got serious about public service. Being late to work or missing in action isn’t just a small problem it means delays for Kenyans who need services. That’s unacceptable,” he said.
He added that he would continue pushing for higher performance standards, and urged all government agencies to support the effort.
“Public servants must be at their workstations on time. Kenyans must see that we’re pushing for change real change.”
If successful, the system could mark a turning point in how government institutions operate with data, not guesswork, driving accountability.
