Lamu East MP Ruweida Obo has officially registered gifts she received from 99 dockers in Lamu County.
The dockers, who recently secured permanent and pensionable employment following Obo’s intervention through President William Ruto, presented the gifts as a token of gratitude for her efforts.
The total value of the gifts exceeded Sh20,000 triggering a legal requirement for public officers to declare and register such non-monetary items with their respective public entities.
Obo complied by visiting the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula to officially document the gifts.
"Today, I have formally registered these gifts, given to me by the grateful young men and women," obo said. "We make the law and live by the law."
Obo said the actions highlight the commitment to accountability and transparency, emphasising the importance of following legal frameworks.
The law restricts Kenyan state and public officers from accepting gifts of a certain value and composition that can compromise their work.
It however gives leeway for them to accept as long as they follow the laid down regulations and the process is done in a transparent manner.
State officers are also barred from accepting gifts of jewellery or other gifts comprising of precious metal or stones ivory or any other animal part protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
A state officer or a public officer who receives a gift is mandated to declare the gift received to the public entity which the public officer represents irrespective of the monetary value of the gift.
Every public entity is expected to keep and maintain registers of gifts received by state officers or public officers and gifts given by the public entity to state officers or public officers.
A gift that is surrendered to a public entity shall be deemed to be a public property and shall be received and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2005.