STATEMENTONINCREASINGBREACHESOFCHAPTER6ON

LEADERSHIPANDINTEGRITYBYSTATEOFFICERS
Inthelastfewmonths,theCommissionfortheImplementationoftheConstitution(CIC)
hasbeenconcernedabouttheincreasingactsofbreach,particularlybyStateofficers,of
theirobligationsunderChapter6oftheConstitutionandtheLeadershipandIntegrity
Act,2012.PursuanttoourmandateofoverseeingtheimplementationoftheConstitution
andpromotingconstitutionalism,wepublishthefollowingnotice.
Chapter6oftheConstitutiononLeadershipandIntegrityofStateofficersprovidesthat
AuthorityassignedtoaStateofficerisapublictrustandmustbeexercisedinamanner;

ThatbringshonortotheNationanddignitytotheoffice
Thatpromotespublicconfidenceintheintegrityoftheoffice
ThatdoesnotdemeantheofficetheOfficerholds
Article 75(2) makes it mandatory that a state officer who contravenes the above
provisionsissubjectedtoapplicabledisciplinaryproceduresandmaybedismissedor
removedfromoffice.Ifastateofficerisdismissedorremovedfromoffice,theyare
disqualifiedfromholdinganyotherstateoffice.Subjectiontodisciplinaryproceduresis
notselectiveorelectivebutmandatoryundertheConstitution.
ItwasonthebasisofthesemandatoryprovisionsthatinJanuary2012,thethenDeputy
ChiefJusticeNancyBarazawasallegedtohaveactedinamannerinconsistentwithher
Stateoffice,andshewasrequiredtovacateoffice.Thiswasintendedtoensurefidelityto
theConstitutionandtosetahighbarfortheconductofStateofficersascontemplatedby
Chapter 6of the Constitution. Sadly,since then, CIC has noted that with increasing
regularity,therehavebeennumerousactsofseriousmisconductandbreachofChapter6
by State officers. Not only do those officers continue to hold office, but indeed no
substantiveactionhasbeentakenagainstthem.
ThefollowingactionsarejustafewexamplesoftheinfractionsofChapter6byState
officers
(i) Sometimes in 2013 one of the Governors was recorded by the media
slapping a Member of Parliament in full view of television cameras.
Whereasthematterissaidtohavebeensettledoutofcourt,theactbythe
GovernorwasclearlyinbreachofChapter6whichisunaffectedbyany
privatesettlement.
(ii) Sometimesin2013,anExecutiveDirectorofoneofthepoliticalparties
wasroughedupandbeatenandhispropertydamagedbyMembersofthe
CountyAssemblywhoopenlyboastedaboutthisaccomplishment.Again
thiswasdoneinfullviewofthemediaandwasaclearviolationofChapter

6.
(iii) AmemberoftheSenatehasonseveraloccasionsbeenrecordedbythe
media traversing different parts of the City with armed bodyguards
brandishing weapons in public view contrary to the law. The said
bodyguardsharassmotoristsandcitizensgenerallyostensiblytoprotectthe
Senator. There have also been media reports of the said bodyguards
harassingpublicservantsinMtwapaMombasaonbehalfoftheSenator.
TheseactsarenotjustunlawfulbutclearlyoffendtheprovisionsofChapter
6
(iv)InDecember2014duringthedebateontheSecurityLaws(amendments)
Bill,therewasgeneralmayhemintheNationalAssemblywherephysical
fightserupted,insultsweretradedliberallyandpropertywasdestroyedby
membersoftheNationalAssembly.Thememberswhoparticipatedinthese
unrulinesswereclearlyinbreachoftheprovisionsofChapter6regarding
theconductofStateofficers.
(v) On the 25th of January 2015, a member of the National Assembly was
recordedharassingandintimidatingpublicofficersinthecourseoftheir
duties at the Gilgil weighbridge. The member not only threatened the
officersbutusedcrudeandinsultinglanguageontheofficerscontrarytothe
provisionsofChapter6.
(vi)Wehavewitnessednumerousoccasions,thelastbeinginMachakosCounty
whereMembersoftheCountyAssemblyhavebeenengagedinphysical
andverbalfightsinfullglareofthepublic. Suchconductisclearlyin
breachoftheprovisionsofChapter6
Failuretotakeactionontheactsofmisconductoutlinedabove,whichareclearbreaches
ofChapter6andtheLeadershipandIntegrityActhavecontinuedtodampenKenyans
beliefinanewconstitutionalorderandmustnotbepermittedtocontinue.Theseactsof
breachwillalsoencourageimpunitybyleaders,apracticeandvicethatKenyanshad
hopedwouldendfollowingtheadoptionofthenewconstitution.BreachesofChapter6
oftheconstitutioncannotbeintheinterestsofandcannotbesaidtobecarriedouton
behalfofthepeoplesuchleaderspurporttorepresent.
TheCommission,thereforeissuesthisnoticeinthefirstinstancetoremindStateofficers
oftheirobligationsundertheConstitution,inparticularChapter6thereof.
Secondlythisnoticeshouldservetoremindleadersoftheneedforthemtoconsiderthe
implications and possible impact of their public utterances on the rule of law and
confidence in the Constitutional order. The high threshold set by Chapter 6 on the
conduct of State officers must be maintained and where there is breach, appropriate

actionmust betaken against theoffending State officer as contemplated bythesaid

Chapter.
Thirdly,CICissuesthis noticetorequestthoseinstitutionswiththeresponsibilityof
enforcingChapter6,includingtheEACCandtheinstitutionsunderwhichtheseState
officersworktotakesuchactionsasmaybenecessarytoensurecompliancewiththe
ConstitutionandtheLawrelatingtotheconductofStateofficers.Suchactionmustbe
takenpromptlyashappenedinthecaseoftheformerDeputyChiefJusticeandmustbe
takenwithoutconsiderationoftheofficeheldbytheOfficer.
Finally CIC issues the notice to request the public not to lower their expectations
regardingStateofficersconductandtocontinuetodemandfullcompliancewithChapter
6bytheirleaders.AstheultimateprotectorsoftheConstitution,thepeopleofKenya
must exert and maintain sufficient pressure, including taking Court action where the
breachesarenotacteduponbytherelevantinstitutions.
Onourpartweshallcontinuetocarryoutourmandatetopromoteconstitutionalismand
theruleoflawforthebettermentofthepeopleofKenya.TheCommissionwillonits
part be constrained to seek court action to ensure respect for the Constitution if the
currentstateofinactioncontinues.
COMMISSION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CONSTITUTION.