The High Court has ruled that displaying the names, images or slogans of politicians on projects funded by taxpayers is unconstitutional, in a decision expected to have far-reaching effects on how leaders publicise public works ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the High Court in Kajiado declared that the personal branding of publicly funded projects violates the constitutional principles governing the use of public resources. It ordered the removal of personal name branding from such projects in Kajiado North Constituency.
The case was filed by Shadrack Wambui, acting through the legal aid organisation Sheria Mtaani, against Kajiado North MP Onesmus Nguro Ngogoyo. Wambui argued that roads, schools and dispensaries in the constituency had been branded with the MP’s name, image and political slogans, turning public facilities into political billboards.
He said the practice undermined public accountability and electoral integrity and violated the national values and principles of governance governing the use of public money. He also questioned why the MP was being credited for some projects that, he said, had begun before Ngogoyo took office.
While the court agreed that personal branding of public projects is unlawful, it found that the petitioner had not proved that the MP was personally responsible for the signs.
“I am not satisfied that the petitioner has discharged the burden of proof that he, whether by himself or through his agents or servants, allowed the signage to be put on taxpayer-funded projects,” the court said.
Even so, it ordered that personal name branding on publicly funded projects in the constituency be removed.
The ruling draws a clear line between public resources and personal political credit. Projects such as roads, classrooms and health centres are paid for with public money, including funds managed through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). By declaring personal branding unconstitutional, the court has affirmed that such projects belong to the public, not to the leaders who oversee them.
Although the orders apply directly only to Kajiado North, the decision is likely to set a precedent for other elected leaders across the country, many of whom display their names and photographs on projects in their areas. It comes as politicians step up campaigns ahead of the 2027 polls, when signs on public facilities are often used to showcase development records.
The judgment rests on Chapter Twelve of the Constitution, which requires public money to be used prudently and responsibly, and on the national values and principles of governance in Article 10, which include integrity, transparency and accountability.
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