Gov’t Withdraws Retirement Packages for Raila, Kalonzo Amid Covid-19 Crisis

The government has suspended the disbursement of retirement package to ODM leader Raila Odinga due to the Covid-19 crisis.

This comes after the National Treasury withdrew Sh1.5 billion in retirement benefits that had been set aside for former Prime Ministers, Vice Presidents, Chief Justices, and Speakers of National Assembly and Senate. 

The money has been rerouted to Kenya’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Business Daily reports.

“The allocation was withdrawn because it was not a pressing matter in the current environment of COVID-19,” a source in the Treasury told Business Daily.

The beneficiaries of the Sh1.5 billion package include Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi, having served as either PM or VP in the past. Each of them is entitled to a life-long monthly stipend of Sh720,000 or Sh8.64 million annually and Sh108,000 fuel allowance per month.

In addition, the three are accorded at least 17 workers including secretaries, chefs, personal assistants, and accountants.

The Treasury is currently reviewing the national budget amid the Covid-19 outbreak, with some allocations being redirected towards the epidemic’s response.

So far, Kenya has recorded 246 cases of Covid-19, 11 fatalities, and 53 recoveries.