The High Court in Kajiado has declared the personal branding of projects funded by public resources a violation of Kenya’s constitutional principles on governance and the management of public funds.
The court also ordered the removal of personal name branding from publicly funded projects in Kajiado North, in a case challenging the alleged use of taxpayer-funded infrastructure for political self-promotion.
The petition was filed by Shadrack Wambui through Sheria Mtaani against Kajiado North Member of Parliament Onesmus Nguro Ngogoyo over allegations that public projects had been branded with the legislator’s name, image and political slogans.
In his petition, Wambui argued that roads, schools and dispensaries funded using public resources were being used as personal political billboards, undermining public accountability, electoral integrity and constitutional principles governing the use of public funds.
The petitioner further claimed that some of the projects bearing the disputed branding had been initiated before Ngogoyo assumed office, raising concerns over the attribution of publicly funded developments to individual politicians.
However, the court said the petitioner had not provided sufficient evidence to establish that the MP personally authorised the placement of the disputed signage or did so through his agents or servants.
“I am not satisfied that the petitioner has discharged the burden of proof that he, whether by himself or through his agents or servants, allowed the signage to be put on taxpayer-funded projects,” the court stated.
Despite finding the allegations against Ngogoyo unproven, the court declared that personal branding of projects financed with public funds violates constitutional principles governing the use of public resources.
The ruling reinforces the principle that publicly funded development projects should not be personalised for political promotion, while underscoring the distinction between establishing an unconstitutional practice and proving an individual’s responsibility for it.
