Package UDA wants to withdraw from Uhuru

Former president Uhuru Kenyatta has been receiving threats of having his attractive retirement package withdrawn by allies of President William Ruto over what they allege to be his involvement in active politics.

According to the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, retired Heads of State are entitled to a lump sum payment of Sh34.5 million gratuity, calculated as a sum equal to one year's salary for each term served

Uhuru has been earning a monthly pension of Sh1.15 million, which is equal to 80 per cent of the Sh1.44 million monthly salary he was receiving by the time he left office in August 2022.

“A retired president is also entitled to a suitable office space, not exceeding 1,000 square metres, with appropriate furniture, furnishings, office machines, equipment and office supplies, to be provided and maintained by the government,” states the Act.

Uhuru is entitled to an entertainment allowance equal to 15 per cent of his monthly salary, this being Sh200,000 per month and a housing allowance equal to 23 per cent of his monthly salary, which is Sh300,000 per month.

He also has two personal assistants, four secretaries, four messengers, four drivers and bodyguards, with his personal office and home workers being 34, which includes press secretaries and security officers paid for by the State.

He is entitled to two new cars of his choice, replaceable every three years, each car having an engine capacity not exceeding 3000cc; another two four-wheel drive motor vehicles of his choice, replaceable every three years, each vehicle having an engine capacity of at least 3400cc.

The former President is entitled to Sh200,000 fuel allowance and Sh300,000 monthly for electricity, water and telephone facilities, which are meant to ensure that he maintains his status and can engage in various activities of his choice.

According to the law, upon the death of a serving president or of a retired president who is in receipt of or who is entitled to a pension under this Act, his surviving spouse shall be entitled to benefits amounting to 50 per cent of such pension for the rest of her life.

The National Assembly can, however, with a motion supported by not less than two-thirds of the members, resolve that a retired president is not entitled to the benefits on several grounds.

“The retired president may not get benefits if he ceased to hold office on account of having acted in wilful violation of the Constitution, or was guilty of gross misconduct or has, since ceasing to hold office, been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of three years or more without the option of a fine,” states the Act.

The retired president will not be entitled to benefits if he held office in, or actively engaged in the activities of any political party contrary to the provisions of the Act or where the National Assembly passes a resolution against the retired president or his surviving spouse.

This is not the first time the issue has come up. 

There was a stalemate over Uhuru’s office two years ago as the government declined to lease his residence adjacent to State House as his official base, with Uhuru’s spokesperson Kanze Dena saying the retired president was paying his staff from his own pocket.

Whereas the Ruto administration had offered Uhuru a Sh250 million one-storied office at the Nyari Complex in Nairobi, which was previously occupied by the third president, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru has insisted that he use his former home.

In a letter to State House Comptroller Katoo ole Metito, Uhuru’s private secretary Kinuthia Mbugua noted the office of the retired president shall be domiciled in the premises located off Dennis Pritt Road, and at the corner of Gate D entrance to State House, Nairobi, Plot reference number:209/1570.

At the time, Uhuru had been denied an opportunity to have an office of his choice, just like his predecessors, Daniel Moi and Kibaki 

Also earning pensions were the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, who were also allowed to choose their offices.

“The former presidents, vice presidents and former Prime Minister were allowed to give suggestions on the office spaces they preferred. Why is former President Uhuru Kenyatta being denied an opportunity to have a private office of his choice befitting his status?” Uhuru spokesperson Kanze Dena said at the time.

State House spokesman Hussein Mohamed said at the time that the former head of state declined to use the office occupied by his predecessor, Mwai Kibaki, in Nyari, Gigiri, which the late Kibaki had occupied for nine years until his death in April 2022.

“There is an office complex in Nyari that was used by President Mwai Kibaki. It is very well known that it is there and it is vacant and President Uhuru Kenyatta can use that office as and when he deems fit,” Mohamed said.