Government to slash Uhuru’s retirement benefits by Sh94.6 million

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta. (Photo: 4th President KE)

By Lucy Mumbi
Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Kenyatta’s allocation will fall from Sh371.46 million to Sh276.85 million in the financial year starting July. The heaviest reductions will affect foreign travel, insurance, local trips, fuel and hospitality.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s retirement benefits will be slashed by Sh94.6 million if Parliament approves new budget proposals from the National Treasury.

The cuts, which also target opposition leader Raila Odinga and former vice presidents Kalonzo Musyoka and Moody Awori, are part of a wider government review of spending on retired top State officers.

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According to the budget estimates tabled in the National Assembly, Kenyatta’s allocation will fall from Sh371.46 million to Sh276.85 million in the financial year starting July. The heaviest reductions will affect foreign travel, insurance, local trips, fuel and hospitality.

“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,” reads the 2025/26 budget estimates.

The government provides retired presidents, prime ministers, and vice presidents with monthly allocations to run their offices, pay staff, fuel and maintain official vehicles, cover travel expenses, and cater for entertainment. The perks are in addition to monthly pensions pegged at 80 per cent of the salaries they earned while in office.

For instance, the budget estimates indicate that Kenyatta will receive a pension of Sh16,776,150 in the upcoming financial year.

Odinga, who served as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013, will see his office perks drop from Sh87.2 million to Sh63.27 million. The Treasury plans to cut Sh23.9 million from his budget, largely affecting insurance (Sh20 million), domestic travel (from Sh2.4 million to Sh1.8 million), and hospitality (from Sh2 million to Sh1.53 million).

Musyoka’s allocation is set to be reduced by Sh28.4 million—from Sh81.36 million to Sh52.9 million. Insurance costs will take the largest cut of Sh20 million, while domestic travel funding will be lowered from Sh3.25 million to Sh2.06 million.

Awori will face a cut of Sh20.28 million, which will reduce his allocation from Sh74.2 million to Sh53.9 million. Notably, this adjustment will place Awori’s budget above that of Musyoka, reversing their previous ranking in terms of office allocations.

In total, the Treasury is proposing to slash Sh167.2 million from the four offices, with the cuts to Kenyatta’s benefits accounting for 56.6 per cent of the total reduction.

The proposed cuts come amid heightened political tension between President William Ruto’s allies and the former president. Kenyatta has recently criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration’s handling of the economy and urged the youth to speak up about their grievances. The remarks drew fierce criticism from the ruling coalition, with some leaders calling for the withdrawal of his pension.

Meanwhile, Odinga has taken a more conciliatory tone, appearing to close ranks with President Ruto since last year. The cooperation has seen several of his close allies appointed to government positions, including Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries.

Public attention on the perks of former presidents and vice presidents has intensified in recent years, especially amid repeated government pledges to enforce austerity and reduce the public wage bill.

In 2015, the High Court stopped the State from paying certain allowances to former Presidents Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki, terming them an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. The benefits included Sh300,000 monthly for housing, Sh200,000 for fuel, Sh200,000 for entertainment, and Sh300,000 for utilities.

Former presidents are entitled to an extensive support staff of up to 34, including two personal assistants, four secretaries, four messengers, four drivers and bodyguards. They also receive four vehicles, including two limousines, that are replaced every four years. In addition, they are entitled to fully furnished offices and comprehensive medical cover.