Raila, Kalonzo to Pocket Millions of Shillings in Retirement Package in New Bill

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former Vice Presidents Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi could receive hefty packages running to millions of shillings should the Senate pass the Retirement Benefits Amendment Act, 2018.

The Bill, fronted by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina proposes that persons who retired as Deputy President, Prime Minister, Vice President or Speaker anytime after January 1st, 1993 be entitled to a retirement package from the State.

Persons who served and retired as Chief Justice or Deputy Chief Justice after promulgation of the 2010 Constitution are also included in the list of those to benefit from the packages.

If the Bill sails through, Odinga, who served as PM from 2008-2013, will get three drivers, one personal assistant, one accountant, two secretaries, two housekeepers, two senior support staff, two gardeners, two cooks and two cleaners.

Odinga and the other State officers mentioned in the Bill will also get six armed bodyguards of choice, diplomatic passports for themselves and their wives, a fully furnished office, vehicles and access to VIP lounges in all Kenyan airports.

“The amendment seeks to ensure the Executive does not use alteration or modification of entitlements due to an entitled person as a tool to intimidate or maltreat the entitled person,” reads the Bill.

Ole Kina's Bill is an amendment to the 2015 Retirement Benefits Bill, which was rejected by President Kenyatta on grounds that Odinga and Musyoka were still active politicians, and therefore, not eligible for benefits.

The 2015 Bill proposed that Odinga be paid a retirement package of Sh21.6 million and a monthly stipend of Sh960,000, while Musyoka was entitled to a lump sum of Sh19.8 million and a monthly salary of Sh880,000.