"If you cannot keep time with your employer, you have basically dismissed yourself. It's just as simple as that," he said.

The officials were supposed to be there to sign performance contracts.

"If you do not take this performance contracting seriously it means we do not take the contract with the people of Kenya on performance seriously," the president added.

According to local media reports, multiple senior government officials were prohibited from entering State House in the capital, Nairobi, and left waiting in the car park as the event ensued.

Kenyan state officials have been signing similar contracts as a way of measuring the performance of their ministries and state agencies for the past 20 years.

The president also vowed to address the misuse of taxpayers' money as well as putting a halt to the cycle of unfulfilled promises.

"It will not be business as usual. I made a commitment to the people of Kenya that there will be no money to steal. There is only money to deliver on the projects and aspirations of Kenyans," he added.

In June, Mr Ruto signed into law a controversial finance bill that doubled the tax on fuel and introduced a new housing levy among other measures. The plans have been criticised by the opposition and led to a series of protests across the country.