Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka to wait longer for retirement benefits as changes are introduced to Bill

NAIROBI, KENYA: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka will have to wait longer for their retirement benefits after disagreements in the National Assembly over new amendments introduced to the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi directed that the bill be sent back to the Budget Committee, over differences on the amendments proposed by Majority Leader Aden Duale and John Mbadi (Suba)

Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) MPs claimed there was a plot to deny the leaders the benefits by irregularly introducing new amendments.

Duale had proposed that former Deputy Prime Minister, Musalia Mudavadi be added as among the beneficiaries of the Bill. He had also proposed another amendment to Section 22 (1) of the Elections Act to ensure the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission does not clear individuals who benefit from state-funded retirement benefits to contest in future elections.

A new clause on the definition of 'elective politics' also appeared to have raised the CORD antennae higher, even as Duale argued that his amendments were well intended.

"We are making laws for Kenyans. This amendment has been approved by the Speaker. The whole bill is a money bill. What I have done is to include a Kenyan who was left out. It is about an office, not individuals," said Duale.

SUBSTANTIALLY ALTER

Although the inclusion of Mudavadi looks harmless and does not substantially alter the original intention of the bill, Mbadi claimed that it was designed to defeat another amendment seeking to delete clause three of the bill.

The deletion proposed by Mbadi would have opened the way for other senior state officers who served prior to 2008, such as former Vice-President Moody Awori to access the retirement benefits.

Under the new clause introduced by Duale, "elective politics" means—the holding of a position or office in a political party, or the participation in any activity that agitates for the holding or election of a person to any elective position or seat or the appointment of a person to public office by any person.

The leaders are likely to take home about Sh85 million if the bill is eventually passed and becomes law.

When the amendments were read before the committee of the whole House, CORD MPs said Duale's amendments were not approved by the Budget Committee as provided for under article 114 of the Constitution.

"The amendments are obviously going to impose a charge on the consolidated fund. I have no problem in bringing back the office of the deputy prime minister as it was there originally, but do it procedurally," said Mbadi.