Uhuru retirements perks to be slashed by Sh94.6 million

By Newsflash Writer

The National Treasury has proposed a substantial reduction of Sh94.6 million in the annual benefits allocated to former President Uhuru Kenyatta for the fiscal year beginning in July.

The revision, outlined in budget documents presented to Parliament, will also affect other retired senior officials, including opposition leader Raila Odinga and former Vice Presidents.

According to the documents, Kenyatta’s retirement package will drop from Sh371.46 million to Sh276.85 million, with significant reductions in foreign travel, insurance, and domestic travel allocations. The cuts are part of a broader review of benefits for retired top government officials, which include monthly office operations, staff salaries, vehicle purchases and maintenance, local and international travel, and entertainment allowances.

Odinga, who is entitled to benefits from his term as Prime Minister, will see his allocation reduced from Sh87.2 million to Sh63.27 million.

Former Vice President Moody Awori’s office will have its budget trimmed by Sh20 million, down to Sh53.9 million. Kalonzo Musyoka, who also served as Vice President, is set to receive Sh52.9 million, a cut from Sh81.36 million.

These perks are separate from the pension payments the retired officials receive, which are pegged at 80 percent of their previous salaries. Kenyatta, for instance, will still receive a pension of Sh16.78 million in the upcoming financial year.

Key cuts: travel, insurance

The Treasury proposes to cut Kenyatta’s foreign travel budget by Sh46.5 million, insurance by Sh23 million, domestic travel by Sh11 million, fuel by Sh7.5 million, and hospitality by Sh6 million. Musyoka’s insurance coverage will be reduced by Sh20 million, and his domestic travel budget will decline from Sh3.25 million to Sh2.06 million. Odinga’s perks will be reduced by Sh23.9 million, mainly due to a Sh20 million cut in insurance, a Sh600,000 cut in domestic travel, and a Sh470,000 reduction in hospitality.

The proposed cuts come amid political tensions, as allies of President William Ruto continue to accuse Kenyatta of remaining active in politics and have called for his pension to be revoked. Kenyatta has recently criticised the government’s handling of the economy and urged the youth to voice their concerns — statements that have drawn backlash from the ruling coalition.

In contrast, Odinga has eased hostilities with President Ruto since last year, a shift that has seen some of his allies appointed to senior government roles, including Cabinet positions and Principal Secretary posts.

Awori gets least cut

Notably, Awori faces the smallest proposed cut of Sh20.28 million, from Sh74.2 million to Sh53.9 million, bringing his benefits above those of Musyoka. Awori, who served as Vice President under President Mwai Kibaki from 2003 to 2007 following the death of VP Michael Wamalwa, was also appointed by Mr. Kenyatta in 2019 to the Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund board.

Overall, the Treasury is seeking to reduce a total of Sh167.2 million from the benefits of the four retired officials, with Kenyatta’s cut making up 56.6 percent of the total reduction. Retirement perks for former presidents and vice presidents have faced increased scrutiny in recent years due to their ballooning costs, despite the government’s pledges of fiscal discipline.

In 2015, the High Court halted the disbursement of several allowances to former Presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki, ruling that they were an undue burden on taxpayers. These included monthly allowances of Sh300,000 for housing, Sh200,000 for fuel and entertainment, and Sh300,000 for utilities.

By law, retired presidents are entitled to a full suite of benefits including two personal assistants, four secretaries, four messengers, four drivers, four bodyguards, and a total of 34 staff for office and home use — all funded by the public. They are also entitled to four vehicles, including two limousines, replaced every four years, along with full medical coverage and fully furnished offices.