President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term will end on Tuesday, and the Treasury will send him a check for Sh39.6 million as a tax-free lump sum payment for his nine years in office.
According to the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act of 2013, a retiring president is entitled to a lump sum payment at retirement equal to one year’s salary for each term served.
Uhuru earned Sh 1.23 million per month during his first term in office, with an annual increase of Sh103,125. This was revised to Sh 1.44 million in 2017, but it was reverted to the earlier figure after the court annulled it. The
Uhuru will also be entitled to a monthly pension of Sh1.32 million for the rest of his life. In addition, the retired president will be entitled to Sh216,563 in monthly fuel allowance and Sh332,063 in monthly housing allowance.
The Act mandates that a retired president receive a monthly pension equal to 80% of the president’s current monthly salary.
Uhuru will also receive a monthly entertainment allowance of Sh200,000 and another Sh379,500 to cover his electricity, telephone, and water bills as a retired president. The government will also provide him with an office and all of the necessary staff.
The government will also provide him with six security guards and four vehicles, two with engine capacities no greater than 3000cc and the others with capacities no greater than 4000cc, which will be replaced every three years.
The president and first lady Margaret Kenyatta will also have diplomatic passports for the rest of their lives, as well as international allowances for up to four trips per year that do not exceed two weeks in length.
To receive the benefits, however, the president must resign from his positions as Chairman of the Azimio la Umoja Political Party Council and Jubilee Party Leader within the next six months.
According to the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act of 2013, Uhuru is also expected to play a consultative and advisory role in the government and Kenyans, and may perform any duties requested of him by the government of the day, for which he will be paid an allowance.
