Part of the newly recruited Makueni County government employees who toke Oath of Secrecy on January 21, 2026. Photo by Komu Musango. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Thirty-six newly recruited Makueni County government employees have taken the Oath of Secrecy in a move aimed at strengthening integrity, accountability, and lawful handling of government information within the county public service.
The oath was administered during an induction exercise held at the Makueni County Public Service Board offices, bringing together newly hired staff recruited in the first and second quarters of the current financial year.
Speaking during the induction, County Public Service Board Chairperson Benjamin Kioko Kasamba said the exercise was meant to familiarize the new officers with the rules and processes governing public service, with special emphasis on confidentiality and lawful conduct.
“We inducted 36 new staff members recruited in the last second quarter of this financial year. A key component of the induction was the Oath of Secrecy, which guides officers on how to manage government information they may access during their service and even after leaving office,” Kasamba said.
He noted that a review of personnel records had revealed that a significant number of existing county staff had never signed the Oath of Secrecy, despite it being a legal requirement for public officers.
“As a board, we realized that many serving officers have not signed the oath. We have therefore written to all county chief officers, directing them to ensure that every staff member under their supervision signs the Oath of Secrecy,” he said.
Kasamba added that the board has set February 28 as the deadline for full compliance, stressing that the move is intended to ensure all county employees remain law-abiding and uphold the standards expected of public servants.
Also addressing the new staff, County Solicitor Jennifer Kyumwa said the Office of the County Attorney participated in the induction to guide officers on their legal and ethical obligations as public officers.
“Our role today was to induct the newly recruited officers on what is expected of them as public servants, particularly on leadership and integrity values as outlined in Chapter Six of the Constitution,” Kyumwa said.
She explained that the officers were also taken through the Conflict of Interest Act, the Leadership and Integrity Act, and other relevant laws governing public service conduct.
“We emphasized that public officers must execute their duties transparently and without favoritism, cronyism, or any form of discrimination. We also explained the legal consequences that may arise from disobedience of the law,” she noted.
Kyumwa underscored that the administration of the Oath of Secrecy was a legal compliance measure, not an intimidation tactic.
“As public officers, they are required to keep confidential any information they encounter in the course of duty, unless authorized by law to disclose it. This oath is about compliance with the law and commitment to ethical service,” she said.
The county government believes the induction and oath-taking exercise will enhance professionalism, integrity, and public trust in Makueni’s public service as officers carry out their duties in service to residents.
