Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has directed all government ministries, departments, and agencies to keep their communication channels active and accessible to the public, warning that failure to do so undermines effective service delivery.
Speaking during an inspection of government offices in Kisumu on Thursday, January 29, Ruku stressed that Kenyans are entitled to timely services and clear communication.
He noted that inactive offices and unresponsive official email addresses create barriers to public access and erode confidence in government services.
CS Ruku Pushes Transparency, Warns Officials Against Withholding Information. Photo: Courtesy.
The CS instructed that all published government contact details must be fully functional and attended to during official working hours by designated officers, adding that non-functional communication channels should not be displayed on official platforms.
In addition to communication challenges, Ruku raised concerns over lateness among civil servants, emphasizing that a culture of punctuality and responsiveness must be embraced across the public service to improve efficiency and public trust.
He cited the State Department for Immigration as a model of compliance, noting that officers in regional offices he visited in Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyeri, and Embu were at their workstations by 8 a.m.
According to Ruku, the department’s approach should be replicated across all government institutions.
The Cabinet Secretary further directed human resource managers within the Ministry of Public Service to strengthen discipline and accountability among civil servants.
He reiterated that official email addresses listed on government platforms must be actively monitored and responded to, warning that non-functional communication channels should be removed altogether.
