The Governors and the Members of County Assemblies(MCAs) have been warned against personalising the branding of public projects and government vehicles with their names, images, or personal messages.
The Senate Devolution Committee report states that this type of personal branding amounts to misuse of public resources, and it gives a false impression of private ownership.
Abbas Mohammed, the Wajir Senator who chairs the committee, said that this practice by public officials is unethical and violates multiple laws.
“Using public funds to brand projects and vehicles with the names or images of public officers amounts to misuse of public resources and goes against the principles of transparency and prudent financial management as set out in public finance management laws,” the report states.
The Senate committee added that personalising public assets may distort public perception and undermine trust.
While addressing the matter, the Senate asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission(EACC), the Auditor-General, and the Controller of Budget to investigate and take action against offenders.
"These oversight institutions should enhance monitoring, issue clear advisories to public officers on the proper use of public funds, conduct audits and investigations, and take appropriate disciplinary action against misuse of public funds for personal branding,” the report reads in part.
The committee said that this directive is in line with a petition from the Grassroots Civilian Oversight Initiative, represented by activist Laban Omusundi, which underlined the misuse of public funds by Governors and MCAs.
The initiative explained that the groups misuse public funds for self‑promotion through branding everything from roads and schools to county vehicles with personal logos, names, and campaign slogans
Omusundi in the petition questioned why politicians have been allowed to personalize the public projects contrary to the Constitution of Kenya.
"Article 231 (4) of the Constitution disallows the portrait of any individual on the currency. Why should politicians be allowed to brand taxpayers' funded projects with their respective portraits, images, or names?” Omusundi questioned.
The Senate committee, however, recommended that county assets instead be clearly labeled with neutral tags.
