Former Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro and his National Assembly counterpart Kenneth Marende are among the latest beneficiaries of the more than Sh1 million-a-month pension payout.
Other new entrants to the scheme that President Uhuru Kenyatta gave a nod to last year are former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and his deputy, Kalpana Rawal, and former vice- president Moody Awori.
Under the Deputy President and Designated State Officers Act 2016, such officers are entitled to a monthly pension at the rate of 80 per cent of their monthly salary and other generous perks such as security, medical insurance, cars, support staff and diplomatic passports for self and spouse.
The Act covers any person who retires after serving as Deputy President, Prime Minister, Vice-President, Speaker, Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice after January 1, 1993.
At least five more former public officers joined the exclusive club of retirees with a monthly package of more than Sh1 million, setting up the taxpayer to shoulder more burden despite the government push to cut the wage bill.
Former Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro and his National Assembly counterpart Kenneth Marende are among the latest beneficiaries of the more than Sh1 million-a-month pension payout.
Other new entrants to the scheme that President Uhuru Kenyatta gave a nod to last year are former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and his deputy, Kalpana Rawal, and former vice- president Moody Awori.
Under the Deputy President and Designated State Officers Act 2016, such officers are entitled to a monthly pension at the rate of 80 per cent of their monthly salary and other generous perks such as security, medical insurance, cars, support staff and diplomatic passports for self and spouse.
The Act covers any person who retires after serving as Deputy President, Prime Minister, Vice-President, Speaker, Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice after January 1, 1993.
Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) set the pay of the Speaker of the Senate and National Assembly at Sh1,320,000 in 2013 implying the two ex-speakers are each entitled to monthly pension payout of Sh1,056,000.
Former Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Mr Ethuro served as Senate Speaker between 2013 and 2017 while Mr Marende, who served between 2008 and 2013, was not previously qualified after accepting a job as Kenya Power chairman up to early this month.
With a basic monthly salary of Sh1,380,351, Dr Mutunga is entitled to pension payout of Sh1.1 million while retired Lady Justice Rawal takes 80 per cent of Sh1.23 million every month. Mr Awori is entitled to a monthly pension at the rate of 80 per cent of Sh1.93 million.
According to the Act, each beneficiary also qualifies for a lump sum of five times their last pay as well as a saloon car and a four-wheel drive vehicle, State-sponsored drivers and fuel allowance equivalent to 15 per cent of what they used to earn monthly. Such vehicles are to be replaced after every four years.
The lavish scheme also compels taxpayers to cater for maintenance of the vehicles at dealerships besides paying for one personal assistant, one secretary, one accountant, two housekeepers, two senior support staff, two gardeners, armed security and two cleaners for each of the public officers.
The new entrants are set to add pressure on the taxpayer who is already shouldering a similar burden to take care of former presidents Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki.
Kenya has had six retired chief justices since 1993. Apart from Dr Mutunga (2011-2016), two of them, Bernard Chunga (1999-2003) and Evan Gicheru (2003-2011) are also alive.
