Head of Public Service Felix Koskei during a meeting at KSG on October 12, 2026/HOPSHead of Public Service Felix Koskei has warned principal secretaries eyeing elective seats in the 2027 General Election against neglecting their official duties or using public resources for political campaigns before the statutory resignation deadline.
Koskei said PSs interested in contesting next year’s elections must continue discharging their responsibilities fully until they lawfully leave office, warning against a slowdown in government programmes or disruption of public services.
“There must be no administrative vacuum, no disengagement from the core mandate and slowing down of implementation, and public resources must not be diverted to partisan political activity,” Koskei said.
“Explaining government programmes is our duty, campaigning is not,” he added.
Koskei was speaking during the second National Development Implementation Committee (NDIC) meeting of 2026 at the Kenya School of Government, attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Principal Secretaries.
He reminded the senior government officials that those planning to contest elective positions must adhere to the applicable law and timelines set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), including the February 10, 2027, resignation deadline.
According to IEBC, all public officers seeking to contest must resign from office by February 10, which is exactly six months before the election day.
“Any public officer who intends to contest in this election must resign from public office by Wednesday, 10th February 2027, which is exactly six months before the election,” the Commission said.
It said adherence to the timelines is “non-negotiable”, describing them as legally binding requirements necessary for the orderly and credible conduct of the electoral process.
The warning comes as political realignments and preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace, with several public officials expected to consider seeking elective positions.
Koskei said the prospect of officials pursuing political ambitions should not interfere with the implementation of government priorities or compromise service delivery.
He stressed that public officers must distinguish between explaining government policies and programmes as part of their official duties and engaging in partisan political activities.
The Chief of Staff also called on government agencies to maintain momentum in implementing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), insisting that commitments made to Kenyans must be delivered through consistent execution of priority programmes and presidential directives.
“We must deliver on our commitments to Kenyans by steadily implementing priority programmes and Presidential Directives, resolving pending issues and keeping public services accessible,” he said.
The NDIC meeting reviewed progress in implementing BETA across all five clusters, as the government assessed the status of priority projects and outstanding implementation challenges.
The committee also discussed preparedness for the expected El Niño rains, including activation of the National Contingency Plan to coordinate responses to potential flooding and other weather-related emergencies.
Officials further reviewed support arrangements for the 3.6 million candidates expected to sit national examinations, with emphasis on ensuring the examinations proceed smoothly.
The directive by Koskei highlights concerns about the use of public resources in political activities, with Koskei making clear that government officials must not use their offices or state resources to advance partisan interests.
