- In his address to the nation on July 5, President Ruto said that no state officer would be allowed to participate in fundraising activities going forward.
- He directed the AG to develop a mechanism for structured and transparent contribution for public, charitable and philanthropic purposes.
Image: PCS
Service Commissions and state officeholders have been mandated to monitor compliance of the recent presidential directive banning state officers and public servants from participating in Harambees.
In a memo dated July 7 and marked confidential, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei reiterated that whilst the spirit of Harambee continues to propel its noble ideal of nation-building, the same has come into disrepute through perceptions of corruption and abuse of office.
“In that regard, it is notified that His Excellency the President has directed that ‘No State officer and public servant shall participate in public collections (Harambees) henceforth."
“Accordingly, all public officers are required to adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct and to secure their strict compliance with the directive as well as compliance by all officers under their supervision, direction, or control,” he said.
Koskei said this is in upholding the national principles and values of governance as enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution and in various laws, including the Public Officers Ethics Act, the Public Service Commission Code of Conduct and Ethics, and the Public Collections Act.
The memo was copied to all state officers including clerks of assemblies, governors, AG, cabinet secretaries and PSs, DPP, auditor general, controller of budget, chief registrar of Judiciary and chairpersons and CEOs of state corporations and constitutional commissions.
Koskei said all service commissions have henceforth been mandated to take on a supervisory role in collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) by establishing an institutional framework to monitor compliance with the new government policy.
“This framework is an interim administrative State Intervention until a law facilitating structured and transparent contributions for public, charitable and philanthropic purposes is enacted,” Koskei said.
The Commissions include the Public Service Commission, Parliamentary Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, Teachers Service Commission and Police Service Commission.
In his address to the nation on July 5, President Ruto said that no state officer would be allowed to participate in fundraising activities going forward.
The directive followed public uproar sparked by some state officials flaunting wads of cash during charitable events, cash whose source they questioned amid a struggling economy and plans to increase taxes.
"The Attorney General is hereby directed to prepare and submit legislation to this effect and develop a mechanism for structured and transparent contribution for public, charitable and philanthropic purposes," Ruto said.
He at the same time announced a number of austerity measures to bridge the deficit of Sh346 billion that would not be realised in the 2024-25 financial year following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024.