Public servants eyeing elective seats to resign in two months

Public servants intending to contest for elective seats in the 2017 General Election have up to February 7 to resign.

In a letter dated December 8, 2016 by Chief of Staff, Joseph Kinyua, to public officers and seen by Citizen Digital, the public servants should resign six months before the election date, which is in line with the Elections Act 2011.

The 2017 elections are set for Tuesday, August 8.

“Attention is drawn to Section 43(5) of the Elections Act, 2011 which provides that: A public officer who intends to contest an election under the Act shall resign from public office at least six months before the date of election,” read part of the statement.

“It is reiterated for general information that pursuant to the provision of Section 43(5) and (6) of the Elections Act any State Officer or public officer who wishes to contest in the forthcoming General Election are required to resign from their public office latest by 7^th February, 2017.”

However, the law does not apply to elected members including the President, the Deputy President, Members of Parliament, Governors, Deputy Governors, and Members of the County Assembly.

The directive by the State House Chief of Staff will now see several public officers, among them Cabinet and Principal Secretaries, parastatal heads, and boards’ chairpersons resign from their current positions.

Among those rumoured to be eyeing elective seats include Water Cabinet Secretary, Eugene Wamalwa and Kenyan Ambassador to Tanzania, Ali Chirau Mwakwere.