Uhuru Kenyatta Declines Government Office, Prefers Private Residence for Work
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta is yet to secure a government-funded office block that he is entitled to under the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act of 2003.
Why Uhuru Kenyatta is yet to occupy office
Nation reported that there is a stalemate between Uhuru and the Kenya Kwanza administration regarding the office to be occupied by the former president.
The government wants Uhuru to settle in the office block at Nairobi’s Nyari estate that was assigned to the late president Mwai Kibaki, but Uhuru wants to use his residence near State House, Nairobi.
The retired president wants to convert his private Caledonia residence, where the government will have to pay him rent for his own house.
According to the law, a living retired president shall be given an office and permanent staff, who shall be public officers remunerated on the terms dictated by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), a retirement package, and insurance costs, among others.
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The government is uncomfortable allowing Uhuru to use his private residence, citing it as a misuse of public funds, yet the Gigiri officer remains unoccupied. If the retired president’s wish goes through, it will mean that the government will pay him to rent for his own property.
A State House official said while the retired president wants to be paid rent for his own house, the government is not ready to play ball.
“The government will not use the taxpayers’ money to pay him rent for his own house. That will amount to a conflict of interest and, therefore, an abuse of public funds.
There is a government property in Nyari near Gigiri that was once used by his predecessor as the retirement Office of the President. He should go there or find another facility that is not owned by him,” the government official said.
Why MP wanted Uhuru Kenyatta denied benefits
Elsewhere, Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe filed a motion in the National Assembly seeking to have the former president denied his retirement perks.
The National Assembly would require a supermajority to stop monthly pension and other benefits enjoyed by Uhuru for engaging in active politics after his retirement.
Section 6 (1) of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act states that a retired president shall not hold office in any political party for more than six months after leaving the presidency.
Uhuru Kenyatta Declines Government Office, Prefers Private Residence for Work
