Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) member and Rarieda legislator Otiende Amollo has fired back at the Standard Group over a publication in which several individuals were interviewed, among them former Public Service CS Justin Muturi—claiming that the public seal had been transferred from the Attorney General’s office to the Head of Public Service, an ally of President William Ruto.
In a statement dated Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo stated that there is no legal basis upon which the public seal can be removed from the Attorney General, meaning no law or legal provision allows for such a transfer. In other words, the Attorney General is legally entitled to have custody of the public seal and removing it would be unlawful or unconstitutional.
“This is inaccurate reporting. There is no legal basis upon which the public seal can be removed from the AG. We removed the intended mischief, and Section 28 of the Act remains intact,” read Amollo’s statement.
According to the Rarieda MP, there was initially a bill proposing to assign custody of the public seal to the Head of Public Service, but that amendment was not passed.
Section 28 of the current Act, he adds, remains unchanged. The Acts states that “the Attorney General shall have custody of the public seal of the Republic of Kenya.”
Otiende Amollo Weighs in On Public Seal Debate
However, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, in a press briefing on Monday, April 19, 2025, confirmed that the public seal has indeed been transferred to the Office of the Head of Public Service, who also serves as President William Ruto’s Chief of Staff.
“The Head of Public Service is the number one public servant in this country. He holds the public seal, executes the directives of the President, and oversees the daily operations of government. Felix Koskei is resolute and determined to weed out corruption,” Mwaura stated.
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The alleged transfer of the public seal has sparked public uproar from various leaders and legal experts.
Leaders Respond to Transfer of Public Seal
In an interview with The Standard, former Attorney General Justin Muturi warned that the move could lead to chaos in government and open the door to questionable dealings.
“By removing the AG from the chain of custody of the seal, the government has created a loophole for dubious deals to be rubber-stamped without legal vetting. If documents can be signed without the AG’s legal advice, that is a serious issue. We should expect chaos,” he said.
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Lawyer and former Member of Parliament Gitobu Imanyara, who was also interviewed by The Standard, called the move dangerous.
“We are now living dangerously. The seal can now be taken to Sugoi, Dubai, or anywhere to serve personal interests,” Imanyara remarked.
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