The Senate has ordered immediate action against governors and Members of County Assemblies who misuse public funds by branding public projects and vehicles with their names, portraits, and campaign slogans.

In a strongly worded directive, Senators called the trend not only illegal and unethical but also a deliberate distortion of public service that misleads citizens and undermines constitutional values.

The directive follows a petition tabled before the Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations by Laban Omusundi, the Executive Director of the Grassroots Civilian Oversight Initiative and a resident of Nakuru County.

In his submission, Omusundi condemned the widespread practice of personal branding on county-funded infrastructure and vehicles, describing it as a form of political self-promotion at the expense of taxpayers.

“The self-aggrandisement misleads citizens into believing that these projects are funded by individuals rather than through public resources,” Omusundi stated in his petition.

He argued that the trend contradicts Article 231(4) of the Constitution, which bans the use of individual portraits on Kenyan currency, and urged similar standards be applied to public assets.

He added, “Historically, monarchs used portraits to assert divinity. But Kenya is a republic. Leaders are servants, not small gods.”

Omusundi called for amendments to the County Governments Act, 2012, to outlaw the use of portraits, names, and political slogans on publicly funded projects.

Instead, he proposed all such projects carry a simple statement: “Courtesy of the Taxpayers of Kenya.” He also recommended that all county vehicles be branded with national flag colours and official registration numbers to enhance public accountability and limit personal misuse.

He said several efforts to engage the Council of Governors and the Attorney General's Office on the issue were ignored, prompting him to formally petition the Senate.

The Senate Committee, chaired by Wajir Senator Sheikh Mohamed, supported the petitioner’s concerns and issued a clear call for enforcement.

“Branding public property with the names and images of individuals is not only unethical, but unconstitutional. It amounts to misuse of public funds and contravenes various sections of the law,” reads the committee’s report.

The committee cited breaches of multiple laws, including Chapter Six of the Constitution on integrity, Article 75 on the conduct of state officers, and the Public Officer Ethics Act, the Leadership and Integrity Act, and the Public Service (Values and Principles) Act.

These legal frameworks demand that public officials act with integrity, avoid conflicts of interest, and use resources efficiently and honestly.

The report further referenced the Public Finance Management Act, specifically Sections 79 and 162, which require transparency and prudent use of public funds—principles undermined by the branding of public assets for personal gain.

Senator Sheikh called on oversight agencies to act within 30 days. “Public officers, including Governors, MCAs, and others, must stop using public funds for self-promotion. They are servants of the people, not demigods,” he said.

The committee directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Auditor-General, and Controller of Budget to take immediate steps, including issuing compliance advisories, auditing county spending on branding, monitoring ongoing projects, and disciplining officials who violate the law.

It also recommended that all government vehicles comply with the Traffic Act by displaying official registration plates and adopt national flag colours to reinforce their public identity and discourage personal use.

The Senate further instructed the EACC to report back within 30 days on the measures taken to eliminate personal branding from public assets. The Auditor-General and Controller of Budget were also tasked with conducting special audits to expose and track improper expenditures.

The Senate’s firm stance comes amid growing frustration from citizens over the misuse of public resources for political messaging. The committee said counties must lead by example and ensure all public infrastructure reflects collective taxpayer efforts rather than the ambitions of individual leaders.