Don’t brand donations, EACC warns politicians

Politicians will have to spend their own money to buy items that they wish to donate to Kenyans to avoid contravening the law.

A letter from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) boss Twalib Mbarak addressed to the Council of Governors’ chief executive and seen by the Nation warns county chiefs against branding items bought using public funds with their names or portraits.

The advisory extends to Members of Parliament, who have also been labelling items bought using public funds with their names and portraits.

The letter, copied to CoG chairman Wycliffe Oparanya, warned that the anti-corruption agency will be monitoring governors’ adherence to the advisory during and after the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure compliance.

RECEIVED COMPLAINTS

EACC has also shared similar advisories with the Affirmative Action Fund and the National Government Constituency Development Fund’s board.

Mr Mbarak said the commission has received complaints indicating that such branding is being used to advance personal interests whereas the items being branded are purchased using public funds.

A number of county chiefs, including Kiambu’s James Nyoro and Nyeri’s Mutahi Kahiga, have labelled Covid-19 donations bought with public funds with their names and portraits, causing a public outcry. In Kiambu, food has been distributed in purple, white and yellow woven carrier bags bearing the county’s logo on one side and the label “Komesha Corona Kiambu. Governor James Nyoro” on the other side.

In Nyeri, Governor Kahiga went as far as repackaging hand sanitiser donated in tanks by Kibos Sugar Company into small bottles bearing his portrait. The governor was accused by Nyeri residents of advancing personal interests in the move, claims that he dismissed as petty and urged his critics to focus on the bigger picture.

VIOLATED ADVISORY

The Nation has learnt that prior to the CoG advisory, the EACC had sent letters to Nyeri and Bungoma counties warning them against the trend.

Politicians found to have violated the advisory will be investigated to determine whether there was prudence in the usage of public funds in the projects. Those found to have breached the law will be prosecuted.

“For purposes of accountability and transparency, it would be prudent to make pronouncements to the public or place the name of the county on the items to demonstrate that the initiative is supported by the county government without necessarily including individual portraits or names,” Mr Mbarak wrote.

Saying the commission is mandated to enforce compliance with leadership and integrity requirements, he added: “... the commission advises that each county government should put in place measures to ensure such practices do not occur.”