Uhuru Kenyatta: Retired President Paid KSh 48m In Lump Sum, Gov't Refutes Denying Him Benefits

• Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura clarified that without fail, the Kenya Kwanza government was settling all the retirement dues entitled to former president Uhuru Kenyatta
• This is contrary to earlier reports in which insiders in Uhuru's fold asserted he was funding the running of his office from his pocket
• The President Retirement Benefits Act grants pension and other retirement benefits to the holders of the office upon their retirement

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi: The National government has set the record straight over the alleged standoff in the settlement of former president Uhuru Kenyatta's retirement benefits.

Reports had emerged that the government was holding onto the benefits legally entitled to Uhuru, who left office in 2022, perhaps due to political bad blood.

Insiders purported that Uhuru was funding the running of his office with his pocket.

How much was Uhuru paid as gratuity?

But in his clarification, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura explained that the state had honoured all Uhuru's pension dues, and that of Mama Ngina Kenyatta, therefore labelling the claims that the former president had been abandoned as untrue.

"The government has consistently honoured its obligations to retired presidents, vice presidents, and the former prime minister," said Mwaura.

Mwaura revealed that Uhuru had been paid KSh 48 million in lump sum, which he said was equivalent to the retired's year's salary for each of the two terms he was in office.

Additionally, he receives a monthly pension of KSh 1.6 million and monthly allowances of KSh 1 million, including an entertainment allowance of KSh 200,000, a monthly house allowance of KSh 300,000, a fuel allowance of KSh 200,000, and KSh 300,000 for water, electricity, and telephone services.

Inside Uhuru Kenyatta, Mama Ngina's rich garage

Further, Mwaura revealed that 12 vehicles bought, fueled and maintained by the taxpayer, were at the disposal of the former president and his mother, Mama Ngina.

Firstly, Uhuru is entitled to two new cars of his choice, replaceable every three years, with an engine capacity of at least 3000cc.

He is also entitled to two other vehicles with an engine capacity of 3,400cc all replaceable after every three years.

All the aforementioned benefits are also entitled to Mama Ngina.

"The office of the third retired president and Mama Ngina Kenyatta have a total of 12 vehicles at the expense of the state. These are two Toyota Land Cruisers with a 4,000cc engine capacity, one Mercedes Benz with a 5,000cc engine, four Toyota Prados with 2,700cc engines, two Range Rovers with 4,200cc engines, two Range Rovers with 5,000cc engines, and one Subaru Forester with a 2,000cc engine," said Mwaura.

What did Uhuru's spokesperson say?

TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that Uhuru's spokesperson, Kanze Dena, had claimed that the retired president was paying his staff from his pocket and that even the vehicles that he is lawfully entitled to were yet to be provided.

She said Uhuru was entitled to KSh 20 million for office rent per year but was forced to furnish an office within his private compound in Nairobi.

Kanze seemed to wonder why her boss would be denied an opportunity to have an office, yet former prime minister Raila Odinga and former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka had been allowed to operate from offices of their choice.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.