By Ally Jamah
NAIROBI, KENYA: Civil society leaders are demanding that President Kibaki also rejects his retirement package that will see him pocket a Sh25.2 million golden handshake.
Speaking on Monday in Nairobi as they staged protests on the streets, the leaders drawn from several civil society organisations asked the President not to assent to the Presidential Retirement Benefits (Amendment) Bill that was passed by MPs last Wednesday. The package also guarantees him a Sh1 million monthly pension for the rest of his life.
The President has so far rejected the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Bill, which would have given MPs a hefty Sh9.3 million send-off package. He has sent it back to Attorney General Githu Muigai for review.
“The President made the right decision by not appending his signature to the MPs’ illegal package. He should do the same for his own retirement package and let it go through the proper channels,” said International Commission of Jurists (Kenya) Executive Director George Kegoro.
The leaders presented a petition to the Office of the President, which was received by the Undersecretary of Provincial Administration Stanley Kamande.
Rev Timothy Njoya said the package set aside for Kibaki was unconstitutional since the Salaries and Remuneration Commission that is constitutionally mandated to do the job did not prepare it. He also termed it too hefty.
“Kenyans are prepared to consider a reasonable package for our retired presidents, but that package must remain within the bounds of reason and should follow the due process of law,” he said.
Resisted robustly
Under the Bill, Kibaki and other retired presidents would receive a lifetime monthly pension of Sh560,000, an entertainment allowance of Sh280,000 and numerous other generous perks.
Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission Atsango Chesoni said Kenyans have sent a strong message against MPs raising their salaries arbitrarily and future attempts to do so would be resisted robustly.
Other organisations that participated in the protest included Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Mazingira Institute, Bunge la Mwananchi, Nubian Rights Forum, Transparency International, and Independent Medico-legal Unit.
