Questions have emerged about the productivity of some civil servants after it emerged that about 40,000 government workers failed to go on leave.
Research has shown that time off from work helps life work-balance and in return boost productivity.
Human resources experts observe that employees do not proceed on leave for many reasons, with the desire to protect turfs as the prime motivation.
“They are afraid that they will be replaced,” Muthoni Ndung’u, a HR professional, says.
She adds that some employees want to be compensated in cash, not time away from office, while others fear missing out on ongoing projects.
“They want to continue enjoying the allowances at work assignments. Some are workaholics or want recognition, pay rises or promotions.
“Some are hiding scandals and are afraid these could be unravelled while they are away,” Muthoni said.
According to a new Public Service Commission report, 37,734 civil servants did not apply for leave.
However, 2,030 applied but did not proceed on leave for varied reasons, some unspecified.
Ministries and state departments are the most affected, with 22,666 officers not taking any break from work.
More than 4,400 officers at public universities did not take time off work. Interior and National Administration department had the highest number of employees who would rather work than rest.
According to PSC, more than 8,000 officers from the Immigration department did not apply for leave.
“More than a third – 37.4 per cent of the officers did not utilise their leave days in accordance with the policy on utilisation of leave,” the Anthony Muchiri-led PSC said.
More than 3,600 staff at the Interior department did not apply for leave, 2,073 at Education, 1,400 at Social Protection, 422 at State House, 983 at Roads department, 595 at the Office of the Deputy President, 598 at Public Health, and 179 at the Office of the President.
At least 364 staff at the Office of the Auditor General also did not proceed on annual leave, 314 at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and 46 at Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
The University of Nairobi had the highest number of staff who did not take tiem off at 1,358.
This comes at a time when 369 employees spread across other universities applied but did not proceed on leave.
The numbers were equally high at Egerton University where 456 officers forfeited leave, followed by Maasai Mara ( 266 ), Maseno ( 263 ) and hundreds others at Multimedia, Machakos, Laikipia, Karatina, Kenyatta and Jaramogi universities.
The Public Service Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual gives civil servants not less than 21 days leave, which excludes weekends and public holidays.
Officers are not allowed to carry forward more than half of their leave days, and annual leave must be utilised within the year they fall due.
The manual requires that public officers proceed on annual leave as and when due.
Despite the requirement, the number of Immigration department officers who did not utilise leave was at par with the cases at state corporations.
It was established that 8,085 state corporation staffers did not apply for leave in the period to December 2024.
“Most ( 20.2 per cent) of the officers who did not utilise their leave days were from the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services,” the commission said, directing that agencies ensure all public officers proceed on leave by June 30, 2025.
PSC wants the Immigration and Citizen Services department to explain the circumstances under which most of their officers failed to use their annual leave.
“Annual leave is granted to public officers to promote work-life balance and to enable the officers to refresh and rejuvenate their energy and vigor at work,” PSC said.
About 800 officers at constitutional commissions and independent offices did not utilise leave, despite 45 seeking to a break from work.
Muthoni also cites lack of succession planning as one of the reasons some staff fail to go on leave.
In such cases, there is no one to hold forte when they are away. Insiders also point out payments to contractors as yet another reason people stay in office without taking a break.
“Some fellows don’t like it when payments are made when they are away, and may be held responsible for the same,” a government staffer said.
In some cases, the entities or departments are short-staffed, officers say, forcing them to work extra hours and extra days.
At least 844 state corporations and semi autonomous government agencies officers applied for leave during the period under review.
PSC data shows that emergency
leave is the most sought, followed by
sick leave, paternity and maternity
and compassionate leave.