Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has refuted claims that the official Public Seal has been moved from her custody to the office of the Head of Public Service.
Speaking on Thursday, May 29, Oduor clarified that the custody of the seal remains firmly within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s office.
"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 said.
Oduor emphasized that there is no conflict within government circles, highlighting the collaborative nature of state functions.
"As a government, we work together under the leadership of the President, as a united team,” she added.
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The Public Seal serves as the government's official signature; it is affixed to critical state documents to signify their authenticity and formal approval.
This includes its use in validating governance decisions, financial transactions, diplomatic agreements, and national deals.
This development follows a week after Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura issued conflicting statements about the custody of the Public Seal.
During a press briefing on May 19, Mwaura stated that the Seal was held at the Office of the Head of Public Service.
However, he reversed his position on May 22, clarifying that the Seal is actually under the custody of the Attorney General's office.
He attributed the confusion to a proposed amendment in the National Administration Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which aimed to designate the Head of Public Service as the sole custodian of the Public Seal.
"The Public Seal is actually under the custody of the Attorney General as per Article 9 of the Constitution, and if you look at the Office of the Attorney General Act, clause 2: Designation of Terms, it clearly states exactly that," he stated.
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