Nairobi, October 28- The High Court has declared the personal branding of projects funded by taxpayers unconstitutional and illegal, in a ruling that could change how politicians identify themselves with publicly funded developments.
The judgment addresses the practice of displaying politicians’ names, photographs and political slogans on public infrastructure, including roads, schools, dispensaries and other community projects.
The case was filed by Shadrack Wambui through Sheria Mtaani against Kajiado North Member of Parliament Onesmus Ngogoyo. The petitioner argued that public infrastructure had been used as a platform for personal political promotion, undermining accountability and the proper use of public resources.
According to the petition, some of the projects carrying the disputed branding had been initiated before Ngogoyo assumed office, raising questions about the attribution of publicly funded developments to individual politicians.
The court ruled that personal branding of projects financed using public funds violates constitutional principles governing public resources and national values. It also directed that personal name branding be removed from publicly funded projects in Kajiado North.
However, the court said the petitioner had not sufficiently demonstrated that Ngogoyo personally, or through his agents, had authorised the placement of the disputed signage.
The ruling comes amid wider concerns about the use of public resources for political self-promotion, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 General Election.
The decision reinforces the principle that publicly funded developments belong to the public and should not be presented as the personal property or achievements of individual politicians.
