Public servants have been reminded to stay away from political activities as the clock ticks towards the August 10, 2027, General Election and instead to focus on serving Kenyans faithfully and efficiently.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has warned county employees against engaging in politics, advising them not to be swayed by political influences.
Governor Nassir expressed concern that their involvement goes against public service ethics and integrity and could compromise effective service delivery to the people.
He said county employees while in service are always required to work in a politically neutral manner and be very impartial in conducting county government business.
Nassir, however, said during elections the county staff are free to exercise their constitutional right to vote for parties and candidates of their choice without undue influence.
He said it is the right of everybody to vote and that ‘nobody can prevent them from doing so,’ but public servants should not be seen declaring support for a particular political party or candidate in public.
He also warned that county officials indulging in ‘political activities’ would have to face the consequences of their actions.
Nassir said public servants should always remain neutral and avoid active partisan politics to ensure fair and unbiased service delivery.
“We will never feel happy to take action against an employee, but still we want to convey a clear message that employees should stay away from political activities,” he said.
Nasir said dabbling in politics while county employees are supposed to serve in the public interest undermines the ‘trust and integrity that society has entrusted in them.’
“Unfortunately, some county employees have become deeply involved in politics at the expense of service delivery,” he said, adding that they should instead adhere to their constitutional mandate.
“We don’t want to take any disciplinary action or punitive measures at this point in time, but we expect public officers to uphold ethics,” he added.
The coastal county boss called on public office holders to uphold honesty, neutrality, transparency, and accountability principles at all times, describing governance as a ‘sacred responsibility.’
The county boss noted that public officers are legally required to maintain strict political neutrality and cannot hold office in or promote the agenda and activity of any political party.
Observers said engagement in partisan politics by public employees undermines institutional integrity, though enforcement remains a persistent challenge during election cycles.
Governor Nassir at the same time called on the citizenry to play an active role in next year’s general polls.
He urged residents to resist misinformation and manipulation, shun electoral violence, and demand issue-based campaigns from political players.
“We call on the people to reject ethnic demagogues, vote selling, engaging in violence and divisive politics,” he said, adding that they erode confidence in the elections.
