NAIROBI, Kenya, May 8 — The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has renewed its warning to public and state officers against engaging in partisan politics while serving in office, saying such conduct undermines public trust and violates the principles of neutrality outlined in the Constitution.
Speaking during a tree-growing exercise at a recovered section of the Karura Forest on Friday, EACC Chairperson David Oginde said public officials are required by law to serve all Kenyans impartially regardless of political affiliation.
“The law is very clear that those people who have been given the responsibility to serve the public in various public offices and state offices are supposed to remain neutral and serve whichever government comes in,” Oginde said.
“That is the only way that we can ensure that the public benefits irrespective of who is in office. But when a public officer then takes a partisan position, it gives the impression to the general public that only those people who are aligned with the particular government in office can benefit from the services of government.”
Oginde said the restrictions against political involvement by public officers are rooted in the need to protect fairness and public confidence in government institutions.
“So it is a law that has an intention behind it, a principle behind it,” he said.
“Because if I am not part of the government or part of a particular party, I would get the impression that I am not welcome to a public office because that particular public officer is speaking from a partisan position.”
He urged officers holding public offices to desist from political mobilization and leave partisan engagements to elected politicians.
“There are politicians whose day-to-day job is to articulate the positions of their parties and their political positions on various issues. Ours is to serve and serve the whole public irrespective of their stance,” Oginde said.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Mohamud Abdi said the anti-graft agency would not hesitate to take action against officials found violating the law.
“The law is actually very clear on the responsibilities of public officials when it comes to engaging in politics,” Abdi said.
“We are called upon to be neutral when it comes to our political activities. In fact, it is only a very limited number of individuals like Cabinet Secretaries and County Executive Committee members who can take a stand in terms of their political affiliations,” he stated.
“But as far as the other public officials and state officials are concerned, they are supposed to abide by the law and, of course, as a commission that is empowered to implement and enforce such policies, we would not hesitate to take action.”
The renewed appeal comes amid growing political activity across the country ahead of the 2027 General Election, with concerns mounting over state and public officers increasingly taking partisan positions in apparent violation of Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.