The High Court in Kajiado has ordered the removal of Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo’s name and portraits from publicly funded infrastructure projects across the constituency, citing constitutional principles of good governance.
The orders followed a petition filed by Sheria Mtaani Na Shadrack Wambui, which challenged the use of a politician’s name, image and slogans on public facilities and development projects.
The petitioners argued that such branding could create the impression that public projects were personal achievements funded or delivered by an individual leader rather than through public resources.
Roads, Schools and Public Facilities Affected
The petition identified several facilities allegedly displaying Ngogoyo’s branding, including Nkaimurunya High School, Kiserian Primary School, Arap Moi Primary School and Nkaimurunya ICT Centre.
Other projects cited included the Bul Tosheka ICT Hub Road, Ezekiel Mutel-Roimen AP Camp and Entomoto Chief’s Camp.
In its orders, the court directed the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to remove the MP’s name and images from publicly funded road projects in Kajiado North.
The Kajiado North National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) Committee was also directed to remove the branding from school walls, chiefs’ offices, camps and other public facilities where it had been installed using public funds.
Administrators of the affected institutions were ordered to remove or erase personal names and portraits from publicly funded projects within the constituency.
MP Denies Involvement in Branding
Ngogoyo opposed the petition, arguing that his conduct as a State officer was guided by Article 7(1) of the Constitution.
He denied participating in or financing the branding of any NG-CDF project or road in Kenya.
The court, however, noted that the petitioners had not proved to the required standard that the legislator had personally violated the law.
The orders on removing the branding therefore address the use of personal identities on public projects, while the court’s observation on the evidence does not establish personal wrongdoing by the MP.
Senate Had Raised Concerns Over Personal Branding
The ruling also referred to a May 2025 report by the Senate’s Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, which condemned personal branding on public projects as unconstitutional and unethical.
The committee recommended that publicly funded projects instead be labelled “Courtesy of Taxpayers of Kenya.”
It also called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Auditor-General and the Controller of Budget to enforce compliance and take disciplinary action against those responsible for violations.
The dispute centres on the constitutional principle that public resources and development projects should serve citizens without being used to advance the personal or political interests of individual leaders.
