Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura has listed 12 vehicles the government of Kenya has given former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta for their day-to-day movements.
The Presidential Retirement Benefits Act 2003 provides lucrative retirement benefits for former heads of state including, over 30 staff, luxury cars, unlimited health insurance coverage and an international travel allowance of up to four trips a year.
They are limited to two weeks each and delegations are limited to 10.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Mwaura said the government has given Uhuru and Mama Ngina more than what they are entitled to.
"The third retired president Uhuru Kenyatta is by law entitled to 4 vehicles at the expense of the state, whereas the former first lady HE Mama Ngina Kenyatta is entitled to enjoy half the benefits of a retired president, as a spouse to a former head of state," Mwaura said.
Mwaura said the government, however, has provided the 12 vehicles to the two which is at least five more than the law stipulates.
The vehicles include 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 and two Range Rovers with 4.200cc engines.
Others are two Range Rovers with 5.000cc engines and one Subaru Forester with a 2,000cc 2,000cc engine.
"These vehicles are fully fueled and maintained by the government. The former president has been issued four fuel cards, and Her Excellency Mama Ngina Kenyatta has three fuel cards to facilitate the fueling of their vehicles," Mwaura said.
Mwaura says the government has additionally facilitated repairs and maintenance of the vehicles attached to the office of the third retired president and the former first lady upon requisition.
"In the 2023/2024 financial year, the office requested service and maintenance for four motor vehicles, all of which were approved and facilitated," he said.
The revelations by Mwaura came after former State House spokesperson Kanze Dena said Uhuru has been forced to pay bills out of his own pocket, including payment of staff.
Dena said most of the legal requirements have been ignored in a ‘blatant’ violation of the law.
“The truth is that we [Uhuru’s office] are not being facilitated,” Dena told the Star.
She said the State House has declined to renew contracts for staff attached to Uhuru, including herself.
