Uhuru's Hefty Send Off Package Revealed

President Uhuru Kenyatta will get Ksh72 million as his send-off package when his term ends in 2022 August.

Retired presidents are entitled to fuel, entertainment, house allowances, and a taxpayer's monthly pension. Taxpayers further cater for his four cars, medical cover, an office, two personal assistants, secretaries, messengers, drivers and bodyguards.

Additionally, the deputy president and other selected state officials will receive a package that will see the budget increase by Ksh150 million.

Members of Parliament will also benefit from this arrangement with the budget for the financial year 2021-22 showing that the bill will increase by Ksh844 million.

In 2020 the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to reject the Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Bill, proposing that MPs who retired between 1984 and 2001 receive a monthly pension of Ksh100,000 shillings for life.

SRC opposed the Bill stating it was processed without its input as the agency constitutionally mandated to set and regularly review the compensation and benefits of all State Officers.

Chairperson Lyn Cherop Mengich stated: "If the Bill is enacted into law, as proposed, it shall not only add additional burden to taxpayers but shall set a precedence and ripple effect for other categories of public officers to demand equal treatment and fairness."

She added: “The Bill is therefore in contravention of Article 230 (4) (a) of the Constitution, as pension is an employment benefit, and therefore falls within the mandate of SRC. Any proposal for the review of pensions for Members of Parliament should be duly submitted to SRC with justification for consideration,”