Aasai

Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has come out to clarify that the Public Seal remains firmly under her custody, countering media reports that had indicated otherwise. The Public Seal is an essential government tool used to authenticate official state documents.

 Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, Oduor emphasized that the legal position on the seal’s custody has not changed. “I am still in custody of the seal, contrary to what has been reported in the media,” she said, assuring the public that no power shift had occurred to the Office of the Head of Public Service (HOPS).

Her remarks followed conflicting statements by Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, who initially claimed on May 19 that the seal was with HOPS but later retracted the statement, attributing the confusion to a proposed amendment in the National Administration Laws Bill, 2023. Mwaura later affirmed the seal remains with the AG, in line with Article 9 of the Constitution.

 The controversy has sparked concerns from former AG Justin Muturi, who warned that transferring such authority without the AG’s oversight could open doors for legal and accountability loopholes. He alleged that the move was secretly embedded in a bill passed quietly in Parliament, calling it a threat to the integrity of government operations.