The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has issued a directive barring state and public officers from branding publicly funded projects with names, images, or symbols of political leaders and parties.
According to EACC, the practice amounts to abuse of office and misuse of public resources.
In an advisory dated June 23, 2026, EACC Secretary/CEO Abdi A. Mohamud said the Commission has received reports of an “emerging trend” where certain political leaders consistently brand public projects and programmes with their personal names, images and/or symbols.
“While recognition of public service is important, branding of publicly funded projects and programmes with the identities of political office holders amounts to abuse of office, misuse of public resources and unethical conduct contrary to Articles 10, 73 and 75, 201(d) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Public Finance Management Act, 2012 and the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012,” Mohamud stated.
The Constitution, the advisory notes, requires state and public officers to act in a manner that promotes public interest over personal or political gain, uphold transparency and accountability, and maintain high standards of integrity.
EACC’s 4-point directive on branding public projects
The Commission now advises that:
- State and public officers must refrain from using public resources to promote personal, political, or partisan interests.
- Public entities should ensure projects and programmes do not bear names, images, portraits, or symbols of serving officers, political leaders, or parties before, during, or after implementation.
- Implementing agencies must ensure any necessary recognition reflects only the responsible government entity and indicates National or County Government support, without personal identifiers or portraits.
- All state and public officers must strictly adhere to the directive.
“The Commission will closely monitor adherence, and violations may attract administrative or legal sanctions,” the EACC boss warned.
The advisory comes as national government and county projects across the country intensify ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
