Cherargei, Sifuna calls out leaders using own images on public projects

Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei has slammed the widespread practice of politicians branding public projects with their own images, calling it not just unethical but outright illegal.
Speaking during a Senate committee session on devolution and intergovernmental relations on Thursday, July 10, 2025, Cherargei noted that it was illegal and unethical.
“The habit of leaders putting their images on public projects is wrong, unfortunate, immoral, and illegal. It goes against Chapter Six of the constitution on leadership and integrity.”
He urged the House to fast-track the proposed amendment to the County Governments Act, saying leaders must stop riding on taxpayer-funded projects for visibility.
“Yes, every leader wants to be seen, but that shouldn’t come through misusing public resources,” he said.
The debate reignited national concern over personal glorification using public funds. A 2021 Kenya Law Reform Commission study found that 70% of the 47 counties had engaged in the practice, despite its contradiction of constitutional values.
Cherargei’s remarks echoed a petition filed last month seeking to outlaw such branding. The petition highlighted proposing stricter controls on project advertising to eliminate personal promotion.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna backed Cherargei’s stance, warning that public resources are being deliberately misrepresented.

“There is no such thing as government property—everything the government owns belongs to the taxpayer,” Sifuna said.
He pointed to recent cases, including a governor who allegedly booked prime-time TV ads to promote a county-funded project while claiming personal credit.
“I’ve even seen governors’ faces on milk packets meant for schoolchildren. How low can we go?” he asked.
Sifuna praised Cherargei’s courage in tackling the issue head-on: “Mr Omusundi has identified a proper problem in this country.”
Their concerns come against a backdrop of growing public frustration over accountability. Kenya ranked 126 out of 180 countries in the 2024 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. A 2023 World Bank audit estimates that the country loses up to Ksh 25.9 billion annually through self-promotion schemes masked as service delivery.
If passed, the proposed legal changes could mark a turning point in promoting transparent and ethical governance. But with political branding deeply entrenched, experts warn that enforcement will be the real test.
For now, the Senate debate has placed the issue firmly in the national spotlight, with Kenyans demanding not just talk, but real action.