Attorney General (AG) Dorcas Oduor has issued a firm clarification confirming that the Public Seal remains under her custody, dispelling recent reports and political claims suggesting otherwise.
Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, Oduor emphasized that there has been no official change in the custodianship of the Public Seal, a vital government instrument used to authenticate and validate official state documents. “The custody of the Public Seal is clearly provided for by law, and that position remains unchanged. I am still in custody of the Seal, contrary to what has been reported in the media,” she stated.
The clarification follows conflicting statements made by Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura, who on May 19 had claimed that the Seal was housed under the Office of the Head of Public Service (HOPS). However, three days later, on May 22, Mwaura retracted his earlier remarks and affirmed that the Seal remains with the AG, as stipulated in Article 9 of the Constitution and the Office of the Attorney General Act.
Mwaura attributed the confusion to a proposed amendment in the National Administration Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which initially suggested granting custody of the Seal to HOPS, Felix Koskei. “The Public Seal is actually under the custody of the Attorney General… It clearly states that,” Mwaura clarified.
Former AG Justin Muturi has been a vocal critic of the alleged attempt to transfer the Seal’s custodianship. He warned that removing the AG’s oversight in sealing official documents could create serious accountability risks. “If documents can be signed and bear the Public Seal without the AG’s legal advice, that is a serious issue,” he cautioned, further alleging that the amendment had been passed “quietly” in Parliament to avoid scrutiny.
In her remarks, AG Oduor reaffirmed the collaborative nature of government operations under President William Ruto’s leadership, noting that while there is unity in governance, legal mandates such as the custody of the Public Seal must be respected. The matter has sparked debate over the separation of powers, accountability, and the sanctity of constitutional roles in the executive branch.
