Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s unwillingness to step down and his continued support for the Jubilee Party have cost him money.
This follows President William Ruto’s administration’s decision to lower retirement benefits for former Presidents by Ksh20 million in the supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2022/2023, which ends on June 30.
The administration of statutory compensation for retired presidents would get Ksh832 million, according to supplemental estimates provided by the National Treasury on Thursday.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration allocated retiring presidents Ksh852 million at the start of the fiscal year.
The deduction will have a direct impact on Uhuru, Kenya’s sole retired president collecting statutory benefits.
If a former president dies, the surviving spouse is entitled to 50% of the pension under Kenyan Presidential Retirement Benefits Act No. 11 of 2003.
However, because Uhuru was resolute about not retiring, his adversaries, mostly from within the government, put pressure on the present leadership to withdraw his benefits.
Kenya Kwanza supporters highlighted the Retirement Benefits Act, which states that a retiring president is entitled to retirement packages six months after leaving office.
In a retort, embattled Jubilee vice chairperson David Murathe cited Chapter 4 of the Constitution – The Bill of Rights – which provides all Kenyan citizens with the freedom to make political choices, including the right to form, or participate in the formation of, a political party, participate in its activities, or recruit members, and campaign for its cause.
Murathe believes that Uhuru should be recognized as a Kenyan citizen before being regarded as a retired President.
The former President further stated that he would not yield to intimidation or coercion and would continue to lead Jubilee.
