Economy

Taxpayers pick up Sh31.6m Kibaki, Moi insurance bill

KIMOI

Former presidents Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE

Taxpayers are spending millions of shillings every month on the insurance covers of two retired presidents highlighting the heavy burden of maintaining the former heads of state out of office.

Data from the Treasury shows that the insurance budget for the two former presidents — Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki — in the year ending today is Sh31.6 million which translates to Sh2.63 million every month.

This amount is almost at par with the monthly pay of the Attorney-General, the highest-paid public servant who earns Sh2.67 million.

The insurance cost for Mr Moi was revised upwards from Sh10 million to Sh20 million in the second mini-budget tabled in Parliament last week.

Mr Kibaki’s was however cut from Sh21.6 million to Sh11.6 million, bucking a trend where he has traditionally had a bigger budget than Mr Moi.

Mr Kibaki stepped down from the presidency in 2013 after serving two terms. Mr Moi retired in 2002 after a 24-year rule, and both enjoy a string of generous perks.

READ: Kibaki gets Sh36m more retirement benefits from Treasury’s mini-budget

In the current financial year, they will share a Sh64 million pension budget that is a 64 per cent increment from the last financial year.

The law also entitles the two to two personal assistants, four secretaries, four messengers, four drivers and bodyguards.

They additionally enjoy a monthly pension of Sh560,000 each, house allowance (Sh379,500), fuel allowance (Sh247,500), entertainment perks (Sh247,500) and Sh379,500 for utilities like water and electricity.

Taxpayers also cater for workers at Mr Kibaki’s office in Nairobi’s Nyari Estate that was bought at Sh250 million three years ago and Mr Moi’s office at Kabarnet Gardens off Ngong Road.

Critics have questioned the cash entitlements since the retired presidents left office rich men with a string of properties and business interests.