Personal branding on public-funded projects is illegal; Court rules

The case was filed by Shadrack Wambui through Sheria Mtaani against Kajiado North Member of Parliament Onesmus Ngogoyo, over allegations that public projects had been branded with the legislator’s image, name and political slogans.

In a petition filed before the court, Wambui accused the MP of using public infrastructure, including roads, schools and dispensaries, as personal political billboards.

The petitioner argued that the practice undermined public accountability, electoral integrity and the constitutional principles governing the management of public resources.

According to the petition, some of the projects bearing the disputed branding had allegedly been initiated before Ngogoyo assumed office, raising questions about the attribution of publicly funded developments to individual politicians.

The court further issued orders directing the removal of personal name branding from publicly funded projects in Kajiado North.

However, the court was not satisfied that the petitioner had proved that Ngogoyo, either personally or through his agents or servants, authorised the placement of the disputed signage.

“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 stated.

Similarly, the court issued a declaration that personal branding of projects financed using public funds violates the constitutional principles governing the use of public resources.