|
LISTEN TO THIS THE AFRICANA VOICE ARTICLE NOW
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
In a pointed address Monday, Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta raised concerns regarding the delayed disbursement of his retirement benefits. Kenyatta’s spokesperson, Kanze Dena, revealed that despite allocations, Kenyatta’s office has been deprived of its rightful packages, with no official communication from State House on the matter.
While Kenyatta receives his monthly allowances, medical cover, and a Ksh.48 million gratuity, Dena noted that numerous other benefits remain unpaid. Foremost among these is the absence of budgetary allocations to his office, which Dena described as a deliberate oversight.
“In the fiscal year 2022/2023, parliament allocated Ksh.655 million to this office. To date, only Ksh.28 million has been spent, primarily on domestic travel allowances and two official trips,” she noted. “This represents just 4.4% of the total budget. This does not include salary payments and medical insurance. No other funds can be accounted for by this office.”
Dena further disclosed that none of the Ksh.503 million allocated for 2023/2024 has been received, bringing the total pending budget for Kenyatta’s office to approximately Ksh.1 billion.
Kenyatta’s office also lacks a fully furnished and maintained office space. “The office in Nyari, chosen by the late President Mwai Kibaki, operates on the former President’s goodwill as it awaits action from State House,” Dena stated.
Additionally, the vehicles allocated to Kenyatta, including two Toyota Land Cruisers, one Mercedes Benz, and one Range Rover used by former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, are reportedly old and contrary to the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which mandates two new vehicles of the retired president’s choice, replaceable every three years.
“Four Toyota Prados are in use—three by the security detail and one by the office, along with one Subaru Forester,” Dena mentioned. She also pointed out that Kenyatta has been personally fueling his cars since the government-issued fuel cards were canceled in March 2023.
Kenyatta is also protesting the lack of support for his foreign trips, despite making two official journeys—to Ethiopia for an African Union-led peace process and to Burundi for the 11th EAC summit.
Dena’s statements came in response to claims by State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed and Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, who asserted that the government has shown goodwill to Kenyatta’s office and that he has been fully enjoying his perks.
LEAVE A COMMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.