Former presidents Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE
By KIARIE NJOROGE, gkiarie@ke.nationmedia.com
In Summary
Taxpayers are spending millions of shillings every
month on the insurance covers of two retired presidents highlighting the
heavy burden of maintaining the former heads of state out of office.
Data from the Treasury shows that the insurance budget for
the two former presidents — Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki — in the
year ending today is Sh31.6 million which translates to Sh2.63 million
every month.
This amount is almost at par with the monthly pay
of the Attorney-General, the highest-paid public servant who earns
Sh2.67 million.
The insurance cost for Mr Moi was revised upwards
from Sh10 million to Sh20 million in the second mini-budget tabled in
Parliament last week.
Mr Kibaki’s was however cut from Sh21.6 million to
Sh11.6 million, bucking a trend where he has traditionally had a bigger
budget than Mr Moi.
Mr Kibaki stepped down from the presidency in 2013
after serving two terms. Mr Moi retired in 2002 after a 24-year rule,
and both enjoy a string of generous perks.
In the current financial year, they will share a
Sh64 million pension budget that is a 64 per cent increment from the
last financial year.
The law also entitles the two to two personal assistants, four secretaries, four messengers, four drivers and bodyguards.
They additionally enjoy a monthly pension of
Sh560,000 each, house allowance (Sh379,500), fuel allowance (Sh247,500),
entertainment perks (Sh247,500) and Sh379,500 for utilities like water
and electricity.
Taxpayers also cater for workers at Mr Kibaki’s
office in Nairobi’s Nyari Estate that was bought at Sh250 million three
years ago and Mr Moi’s office at Kabarnet Gardens off Ngong Road.
Critics have questioned the cash entitlements since
the retired presidents left office rich men with a string of properties
and business interests.
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