Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

- Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has broken her silence on the recent debate surrounding the custody of Kenya’s Public Seal.

Oduor asserted that the highly symbolic State instrument remains firmly under the care of her office.

Her statement effectively quells days of speculation fueled by contradictory reports and remarks from senior government officials.

Oduor issued a calm but firm rebuttal on Thursday, May 29, to claims that the Public Seal, a critical emblem used to validate official government documents, had been transferred to the office of the Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei.

She described such assertions as baseless, clarifying that her office remains the legal custodian of the seal, in accordance with the law.

"Accordingly, the legal custody of the public seal remains with the Attorney General, and as such, the Attorney General has and retains the in-custodial legacy of the public seal, namely the legal right to control, protect, and care for the public seal under the Attorney General's charge," she stated.

Oduor went further to underline that there was no internal friction over the matter, asserting that the executive operates as a united front.

"We have had no problem with the issue of the public seal, apart from what is in the papers. And the government is one government," she said, seeking to dispel public notions of discord at the highest levels of the state.

The reassurance came after several days of public confusion, sparked by conflicting statements from Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura.

Mwaura attributed the mix-up to a proposed amendment in the National Administration Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Oduor, quoting Section 28 of the Office of the Attorney General’s Act (Cap 6A), clarified that the law is unequivocal about where the seal belongs.

"The custody of the public seal is the subject of section 28 of the Office of the Attorney General's Act, Caps 6A of the laws of Kenya. This provision stipulates that the Attorney General shall have custody of the public seal of the Republic of Kenya. This particular provision has neither been repealed nor amended in any manner whatsoever," she said.

In her detailed remarks, Oduor painted a picture of institutional cohesion within the executive, carefully steering away from any perception of a turf war between key government offices.

"The executive is one executive. We work together collaboratively under the leadership of the President. So we are one. The Attorney General is a member of the executive under the Constitution, and the whole executive serves under the President as one, and we share responsibility. Thank you," she added.

Source: TUKO.co.ke