The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has directed state and public officers to stop branding publicly funded projects and programs with the names, portraits, images, symbols, or slogans of individual leaders, politicians, or political parties.
In an advisory issued on June 23, the commission warned that the practice undermines public accountability.
Further personal branding on taxpayer-funded projects creates the impression that government projects are personal donations rather than services financed through taxpayers’ money.
“The Commission’s attention has been drawn to an emerging trend of branding public projects and programs with names, images, or symbols of specific individuals, political parties, or leaders. Various reports received by the Commission indicate that certain political leaders have consistently branded public-funded projects and programs with their personal names, images, and/or symbols,” the EACC advisory read.
Also Read: EACC Boss Abdi Mohamud Elected to Key African Role
EACC on Government-Funded Projects
According to EACC, public projects, assets, and programs should bear only official government identification marks, institutional logos, or approved branding.
Further, the Commission emphasized that the use of personal political branding on government-funded projects constitutes the misuse of public funds for political gain.
Additionally, the Commission clarified that the directive applies to national and county government projects, as well as initiatives financed by public funds.
State and public officers involved in politically branding government-funded projects will be personally liable for promoting political interests using public funds, according to the commission.
In addition to misuse of public funds, politicians involved in the personal branding of taxpayers-funded projects are in abuse of office and violate the ethical conduct of Articles 10, 73 and 75, (2)(d) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, Public Finance Management Act, 2012 and the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012.
Also Read: SHA, EACC, KMTC Announce Jobs: Qualifications and How to Apply
Politician Branding on Government Projects
The advisory comes amid growing public concern over the branding of government projects by governors, Members of County Assemblies, Members of Parliament and other leaders seeking visibility from taxpayer-funded initiatives.
Public assets such as ambulances, water bowsers, school buses and construction sites have frequently carried the names or images of serving politicians, according to the EACC.
Following concerns about the political branding of projects, the EACC has advised that state and public officers should act in the interest of the public and not for political gain,
Leaders should maintain transparency and accountability in the management of public resources while upholding high standards of integrity.
Further, public entities have been requested to take proactive action in ensuring public projects and programs do not have personal branding symbols or names during the implementation and completion process of projects.
Project implementing agencies, according to the Commission, have been directed to ensure that branding on projects or programs clearly indicates they are government-funded.
Failure to adhere to the non-personal and political branding on public-funded projects may attract administrative and legal sanctions according to the EACC.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
