The government has called a bluff on retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s office for alleged neglect of its existence.
Government Spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura, in response to a press briefing by Uhuru Kenyatta’s communications head, Kanze Dena, distanced the Kenya Kwanza administration from allegations that it had refused to fund the constitutional office.
On denied requisition of vehicles, Dr Isaac Mwaura stated that the Ksh140 Million budget was exorbitant and the cars currently in Uhuru’s fleet were ‘fairly new cars.’
“The office also claimed that the vehicles were old and not deserving of the retired president. But the records are clear: The vehicles were bought in the years ranging between 2020, 2021 and 2022. They are, therefore, very befitting of the person of the third retired President. They include 2 Range Rover Autobiography, 2 Range Rover Sport, a Mercedes S600L, an armoured Land Cruiser V8 and 4 Prados.”
“Moreover, the Office of the Third Retired President has sent a request for 4 vehicles whose cost is a staggering KSh140 million. They are the Range Rover Vogue (First Edition) at KSh51.3 million, the Mercedes Benz $500 at KSh66.4 million, the Toyota Land Cruiser ZX-VXRK6 at KSh22.5 million, and the Toyota Fortuner at KSh10.6 million.”
On the contentious Nyari office, Dr. Isaac Mwaura accused the former President of greed, wanting to benefit from leasing his personal property (the Uhuru Kenyatta Institute) as a government office.
“In 2012/2013, the government purchased an Office of the Retired President. This office is located in Nyari, Nairobi. This is the office the late President Mwai Kibaki used for 9 nine years, between 2013 and 2022. It is, therefore, a suitable office for any retired President. By rejecting this office and preferring that the government lease his own private home, the Third Retired President is inviting the government to violate procurement laws, regulations, and procedures.”
“The Third Retired President wants to be both a landlord and a tenant at the same time. It is an adventure that the government cannot engage in as this is a serious conflict of interest.”
Kanze Dena also made claims that her appointment and that of another staffer, Mr. George Kariuki were yet to be approved, straining the former president’s workforce.
“The Act also specifies that staff who work in the Office of the Retired President must be public servants. On Mr George Kariuki and Ms Kanze Dena. their names have not been forwarded to the State House Comptroller by the retired President for processing.”
Uhuru’s office came to the spotlight after details emerged that the former president has ditched the Nyari office set aside for Retired Presidents.
