Civil servants can campaign

The government has defended the use of Permanent Secretaries and other civil servants in sensitizing Kenyans on the contents of the proposed constitution.

Government speaker Dr. Alfred Mutua says the proposed constitution is a government policy document passed by parliament, adding that it is the responsibility of public servants is to enlighten Kenyans on the correct contents of the document to save them from being misled by those opposed to it.

Addressing the press in his office on Friday, Mutua said there is no law prohibiting public servants or any Kenyan from engaging in the ongoing civic education.

"The Constitution is not about political party competition or partisan interest. It is a matter of national interest. Civil servants are citizens of this country and their participation in civic education is for a document that is for the country and not any political party," he said.

He added that " the constitution is a government policy document passed by parliament and adopted and approved by cabinet. Therefore it is role of public servants to enlighten wananchi on government policy decisions".

The government spokesman termed IIEC chairman Issack Hassan's statement on Thursday as incorrect and has no basis in law.

He said civil servants are only prohibited in direct participation in partisan politics noting that the national referendum is not an election where party politics is involved.

Public Officers Ethics Act, prohibits civil servants from engaging in politics.

On Thursday, the electoral body faulted the government's move to use senior civil servants to campaign for the proposed constitution.

Hassan who was fielding questions from journalists during a press conference by Agenda IV commissions said senior civil servants should not be used in the process.

He said they should instead continue doing what they are supposed to do which is offering services to Kenyans across the board.

The chairman cautioned that the use of top civil servants in the campaigns could be used to challenge the referendum results in court after the polls.

Various PS and Parastatal chiefs have been crisscrossing their home areas campaigning for ‘Yes' ostensibly following a directive from Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura.