Agency
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, has approved the administration of oaths of office to local council leaders in local languages, ending a long-standing challenge that has often turned swearing-in ceremonies into moments of embarrassment and public ridicule for some elected officials.
In a circular dated May 25, 2026, addressed to Chief Administrative Officers, Town Clerks and Sub-county Chiefs, Kumumanya said the Ministry had received several inquiries on whether councillors could take their oaths in local languages, considering that they are already permitted to conduct council business and deliberations in languages understood by their communities.
The guidance comes after years of complaints that many councillors, particularly at the LC III and parish levels, struggled to read and pronounce English words contained in the oath.
During several swearing-in ceremonies across the country, leaders frequently stumbled over words such as “allegiance,” which was often pronounced as “arrogance,” while “solemnly” was commonly rendered as “Solomon.”
Kumumanya cited Article 6(3) of the Constitution, which provides that any language other than English and Swahili may be used as a medium of instruction in educational institutions or for legislative, administrative and judicial purposes.
The move has been welcomed by many local leaders who have long argued that language barriers undermined the significance of the swearing-in process.
