Editorials

EDITORIAL: Clarify resignations law

swazuri

National Land Commission chairman Muhammad Swazuri. FILE PHOTO | NMG

It is a shame that Kenya’s public servants have not embraced the culture of voluntary resignations on integrity questions.

A majority wait to be fired or pushed out.

The few who choose to leave their jobs often do so after going through a messy criminal justice action, including dramatic arrests and dragging to court.

Indeed, there is no consensus on what stepping aside from office or its variants entail.

Whatever the case, the affected officials end up denying themselves a dignified exit or the chance to clear their names, and bring the public offices they hold into disrepute.

The latest to have its image blighted by such standoffs is the National Land Commission where chairman Muhammad Swazuri is fighting attempts to oust him after he and some senior commission staff were charged with corruption recently.

Like others before him, Prof Swazuri will most likely cite a grey area in the integrity laws that doesn’t expressly require a public official to step aside until culpability has been proved.

There is a need to clarify the legal position on this matter to protect public institutions from falling into disrepute along with officials who choose to hang onto public offices.