Moi, Kibaki office repairs to cost taxpayers Sh20m in mini-budget

Taxpayers will spend Sh20 million to renovate the offices of former presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki underlining the growing cost of making the former Heads of State comfortable.

The cash request is contained in mini-budget tabled in Parliament by Majority Leader Adan Duale where the Treasury is seeking MPs’ nod for an additional Sh57 billion.

Mr Kibaki’s office block at Nyari Estate in Nairobi was bought last year by the government at Sh250 million.

Its purchase followed a public outcry after the Treasury had set aside Sh700 million to acquire new offices for Kenya’s third president. 

Mr Moi has an office at Kabarnet Gardens off Ngong Road and repairs of the two office blocks come as Kenyans spend nearly Sh150 million in the current financial year to keep the former presidents happy in retirement.

Mr Kibaki is entitled to Sh82.86 million in benefits during the 2014/15 fiscal year starting while his predecessor will get Sh66.85 million, according to the Treasury’s recurrent expenditure plans.

Mr Kibaki stepped down from the presidency last year after serving two terms. Mr Moi retired in 2002 after a 24-year reign, which has entitled him to regular payments, the first ever for a former Head of State in Kenya.

The first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, died in office in 1978.

The total cost of statutory benefits for the two retired presidents is expected to rise to Sh158.67 million in 2015/16 and to Sh164.68 million the following year.

Under the law, both Mr Kibaki and Mr Moi are entitled to an office, staff and a full secretariat to manage their programmes.

Mr Moi opted to use his Kabarnet Gardens home near Kibera Estate in Nairobi as his official office. The State, however, is responsible for its maintenance and security.

The former presidents’ offices are fitted with sophisticated security apparatus such as surveillance equipment and are well furnished.

READ: Kibaki, Moi perks to cost taxpayer Sh150 million a year

Apart from the Nyari office block, Mr Kibaki has a State-financed Sh500 million Mweiga home in Nyeri, which was perceived to be his retirement home. He rarely spends time at the Mweiga home.

The house is magnificent, an imposing architectural piece of work that is built on a 100-acre piece of land.

Mr Kibaki’s other entitlements are Sh195,000 in monthly fuel allowances or 15 per cent of his last salary of Sh1.3 million a month and a house allowance of Sh299,000, equivalent to 23 per cent of what he used to earn.

The Act also stated that his lump sum payment would be one year’s salary per term served, which makes that at least Sh25.2 million. Former First Lady Lucy Kibaki is entitled to a diplomatic passport.

Retired President Moi enjoys similar perks as Mr Kibaki given that the Act applies to both of them.