No law on portraits, says President Kenyatta

President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses Kisumu residents on February 2, 2016. Mr Kenyatta said there is no order forcing businesses to hang his portrait on walls of their premises. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga last month urged 24 of his colleagues from Cord to pull down President Kenyatta’s portraits.

  • Mr Rasanga said doing so would confirm their support for the Cord leader as he is “still a symbol of good leadership”.

  • Kenyans have been used to hanging portraits of presidents, and the tradition dates back to the colonial days.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday said there is no order forcing businesses to hang his portrait on the walls of their premises.

State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said those displaying the President’s portrait were doing so freely.

“I think portraits have always been up in terms of tradition. But no one is being coerced to do anything,” he told a press conference at Harambee House in Nairobi.

The response came after Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga last month urged 24 of his colleagues from Cord to pull down President Kenyatta’s portraits and replace them with those of opposition leader Raila Odinga. Mr Rasanga said doing so would confirm their support for the Cord leader as he is “still a symbol of good leadership”.

Kenyans have been used to hanging portraits of presidents, and the tradition dates back to the colonial days.