Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has clarified that the Public Seal is held by the Attorney General, not the Head of Public Service (HOPS), as he had stated on May 19.
The Public Seal plays a crucial role as a national symbol and a tool for authenticating official government documents. The Seal consists of the coat of arms of Kenya set on a greyscale background featuring two lions, a symbol of protection, holding spears and a traditional East African shield.
Earlier in the week, Mwaura had stated that the Public Seal was transferred to the HOPS following due legal process.
"The transfer of the custody of the public seal from the office of the attorney general to the office of the head of public service was conducted in accordance with the law,” he stated.
He acknowledged that Parliament removed the proposal to amend the National Administration Laws (Amendment) Bill, which would have made the HOPS the sole custodian of the seal.
The National Government Administration Laws (Amendment) Bill aims to make various amendments to existing laws related to national government administration in Kenya
It addresses the establishment of the Head of the Public Service and Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) offices, their functions, and qualifications. The bill also seeks to streamline the functions of CAS, as well as make other connected amendments
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, May 22, Mwaura stated that the National Parliament deleted the proposal to amend the National Administration Laws( Amendment) bill, which sought to make the head of the public service the sole custodian of the Public Seal.
"The Public seal is actually under the custody of the attorney general, as per Article 9 of the constitution 2010, and if you look at the Office of the Attorney General Act, clause 28A on definition of terms, it clearly states exactly that."
"Therefore, this needs to go on record that the public seal is not with the head of public service, it is through the attorney general, and that is disinformation that came as a result of a process in parliament, of course it was deleted," Mwaura said.
The Public Seal is a national symbol used to authenticate important state documents. It has traditionally been under the custody of the Attorney General, as outlined in the Constitution.
It serves as a mark of authenticity for key government documents, ensuring their legitimacy and official status. It is affixed to documents to confirm that they have been issued or approved by the state.
As a national symbol, it represents the authority of the Kenyan state and is a formal marker of sovereignty.
