President Ruto, Uhuru Hold Extensive Talks Over Retirement Benefits Dispute

President Ruto, Uhuru Hold Extensive Talks Over Retirement Benefits Dispute

President William Ruto met with his predecessor, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Tuesday to discuss concerns about the disbursement of funds allocated to his office.

According to State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, following the talks, President Ruto formed a team led by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to address the former President’s office’s concerns raised on Monday.

The team, led by the head of public service, will discuss, among other things, the location of the retired President’s office and the associated staffing arrangements.

“This morning, President William Ruto had a conversation with his predecessor in office, the 4th President, President Uhuru Kenyatta, regarding concerns about facilitating the functioning of the retired President’s office”

“President Ruto has consequently constituted a team, led by the Head of Public Service, to immediately address all the issues raised, including the location of the retired President’s office and the attendant staff establishment,” said Mohamed in a statement on X.

This morning, President @williamsruto had a conversation with his predecessor in office, the 4th President, President Uhuru Kenyatta, regarding concerns about facilitating the functioning of the retired President’s office…

— Hussein Mohamed, MBS. (@HusseinMohamedg) June 11, 2024

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta accused his successor, William Ruto’s government, of frustrating him by denying him Presidential Retirement Act benefits.

Through spokesperson Kanze Dena, the retired President listed a slew of grievances, including being financially strangled through measures such as being denied official office space.

Aside from the Ksh.48 million gratuity paid to Kenyatta at the end of his service, monthly allowances, and medical insurance, his office claims he has been denied access to the budgetary allocation released to the state house comptroller for disbursement to him.

The denial of funds to the office means that the former president has had to dig deep into his own pockets to fund its operations.

The Presidential Retirement Benefits Act provides retired presidents with a monthly pension, entertainment allowance, housing allowance, and appropriate office space.

In addition, he must be reimbursed for two new cars that can be replaced every two years, two four-wheel drive cars of his choice that can be replaced every three years, a fuel allowance, water, electricity, and telephone services, and full medical and hospital coverage, among other things.

President Ruto, Uhuru Hold Extensive Talks Over Retirement Benefits Dispute