[Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri. He is among Cabinet secretaries who have been campaigning for the re-election of President Kenyatta.] (File)
The Ombudsman has warned all public officers engaged in campaigns and using state resources.
According to the Commission on Administrative Justice, all those doing so are breaking the law and should lead to the disqualification of the party and the candidate they support.
In an advisory communication, the office rubbished State House’s stand that the CSs are exempted from such ban.
“In our view, the question of accountability of public officers should be continuous and not summative to coincide with the electioneering period since this blurs the line between accountability and political campaign,” the Ombudsman's acting chairperson Regina Mwatha said.
Last month, State House defended the Cabinet Secretaries, saying they were only explaining policies and what the government had put in place in different ministries.
“No, they are not campaigning,” he told journalists at State House on April 2.
“They are merely describing the investments made under President Kenyatta and the impact thereof, and why therefore it is important for the President to be re-elected to continue with the task of transforming Kenya,”
However, the Ombudsman seems to differ with the opinion.
“The IEBC should take action against any political party or candidate who is proven to have aided or abetted the participation of public officers or use of public resources in political activities,” the Ombudsman said.
“This could include disqualification from contesting the forthcoming General Election on August 8, 2017.”the report went on.
Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution), Charles Keter (Energy), Joseph Nkaissery (Interior), Eugene Wamalwa (Water), Sicily Kariuki (Public Service), Fred Matiang’i (Education) and Najib Balala (Tourism) are some of the ministers who have been campaigning for the current regime.