President Ruto’s Gift Has Uhuru Kenyatta Smiling All The Way To The Bank

The government of President William Ruto has prepared a handsome retirement package for former President Uhuru Kenyatta, just four months after he handed over power peacefully after the August 2022 general elections.

The money is expected to make Uhuru’s life easier and comfortable as a retired head of state as the constitution bars him from running for the presidency. Sections of the law also bar a retired President from holding office in a political party six months after retirement.

According to details published by Business Daily, Treasury has allocated the former president Ksh678.57 million for his pension and retirement perks for the year to June. The sendoff package also includes a fully furnished office, limousines and salaries for employees.

This allocation has been captured in President William Ruto’s first supplementary budget. According to the details, the Ksh678.57 million includes Ksh655.32 million for the office while Ksh23.47 million – equivalent to Ksh1.95 million monthly – will be paid as pension.

The perks for Mr Kenyatta include Ksh140 million for the purchase of luxury vehicles and other transport-related equipment and Ksh162.49 million to facilitate his travel both locally and abroad.

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Mr Kenyatta’s perks will be the largest offered to a retired President. The late Mwai Kibaki was offered perks worth Ksh94.26 million in the fiscal year starting July 2014.

Mr Kibaki’s retirement cost still trails that of Mr Kenyatta even factoring in the Ksh250 million that was used to buy him an office block at Nyari Estate in Nairobi.

A retired President’s once-a-month pension is set at 80% of his pensionable salary, which is equivalent to 60% of the Ksh1.44 million monthly pay offered to the sitting President.

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