The Treasury has set aside Sh1.5 billion to cater for the
retirement benefits of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and retired
Vice-Presidents, including Kalonzo Musyoka, underlining the burden of
keeping former State officials comfortable in retirement.
Budget
documents tabled in Parliament show an allocation of Sh1.5 billion as
gratuity for retired presidents under an expenditure line that is being
introduced for the first time.
The allocation comes
weeks after Mr Odinga and Mr Kalonzo made a formal application for the
lavish pension offered retired vice presidents.
A source at the Treasury said the budget line labelled “Retired
Presidents” will cater for retired State offices whose pension is
captured under the Deputy President and Designated State Officers Act,
including National Assembly Speakers, Chief Justices and their deputies
as well vice presidents.
“We created the new budget
line to accommodate retired offices under the Deputy President
Retirement law,” said a top Treasury official who sought anonymity,
citing sensitivity of the matter.
“We have many persons captured by the law seeking the benefits and they are hefty, hence the need for a new budget line.”
The allocation will increase to Sh2 billion in the year starting
July 2020, which is higher than the Sh1 billion allocated for building
affordable homes, Sh1.5 billion for constituency transformers, Sh400
million for regional cancer centres and Sh300 million for loans for the
youth through the Uwezo Fund.
Peace deal
The State eased restrictions on the Opposition leaders’ access
to retirement benefits following the peace deal between President Uhuru
Kenyatta and his rival, Mr Odinga, popularly referred to as “the
handshake” of March 2018.
Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka will
be entitled to a lump sum pay of Sh8.64 million, Sh720,000 in monthly
lifelong pension and Sh108,000 in fuel allowance every month besides
other lavish benefits like fully furnished offices as well as 17 workers
including chefs, accountants, secretaries and personal assistants at
taxpayers’ expense.
The two leaders currently earn a
monthly pension of nearly Sh200,000 for the multiple terms they served
as MPs for Lang’ata and Mwingi North constituencies respectively.
The MPs’ pension will be stopped once the two start accessing the lavish benefits.
President
Kenyatta had in 2015 declined to assent to a bill that would have given
Mr Musyoka and Mr Odinga the hefty perks, citing their participation in
active politics but softened his stance following the handshake.
Lavish benefits
The lavish retirement benefits will be extended to Musalia Madavadi, who served briefly as Kenya’s Vice President in 2002.
Moody
Awori, who was Vice President between 2003 and 2008, is already
enjoying the benefits and taxpayers used Sh149.2 million in the six
months to June for his staff and office—reflecting the taxpayer burden
of the retirement perks.
According to the Act, the
former Prime Minister will receive a monthly pension equivalent to 80
per cent of his last salary, a lump sum of equivalent to 12 months of
his last pay, security, medical insurance and a diplomatic passport for
himself and spouse.
He will also receive two saloon
cars and a four-wheel drive vehicle, both of which will come with three
drivers and a fuel allowance equivalent to 15 per cent of the monthly
pay of the serving Deputy President.
Replaced
The vehicles will be replaced after every four years. Taxpayers will cater for maintenance of the vehicles at dealerships.
Among
the other perks that Mr Odinga will enjoy are; one personal assistant,
one secretary, one accountant, two housekeepers, two senior support
staff, two gardeners, armed security and two cleaners.
Mr Musyoka and Mr Mudavadi will also enjoy similar benefits.
Retired
Parliament Speakers — Kenneth Marende, Francis ole Kaparo and Ekwee
Ethuro — are also enjoying comparable benefits, but with a smaller staff
of eight aides and two armed guards.
No comments :
Post a Comment