State Officials Violating Act78 of the Constitution to Be Sacked

An investigation to seek out public officers in violation of act 78 of the constitution has been launched by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) has been launched.

EACC’s boss, Twalib Mbarak, stated that for officers found in violation of the article, measures to teach them a lesson would be put in place.

Article 78 of the constitution states that state officers or members of defense forces are not allowed to be in possession of dual citizenship and also that for a person to be eligible for election or to have position at the state office, he or she should also not possess dual citizenship. The article also states that these clauses are not applicable to members of commissions, judges or any other person who has no way of opting out of citizenship from another country by operation of that country’s law.

In a press statement on Thursday last week, Mbarak stated that anyone found to be in violation of the leadership and integrity act will be removed from office. This move comes as a result of MPs who asked the EACC to carry out investigation on state officers who are suspected to be in possession of citizenship to not one but two countries.

The members of parliament had given claims that some state officers, some of whom have received approval from the parliament are in possession of dual citizenship which is contrary to act 78 of the constitution. This matter had been brought by the debate on whether Mwende Mwinzi should be posted to Seoul, Korea as an ambassador yet she holds US Citizenship. The chairman of committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, Katoo Ole Metito, made the call claiming a number of Principal secretaries, Cabinet secretaries, Governors and MPs hold dual citizenships.