Uhuru Defies Pressure, Strengthens Bond With Raila By Paying His Pension

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed Treasury to allocate 1.5B shillings in the coming financial year for pensions  of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and retired Vice-Presidents, including Kalonzo Musyoka, pointing to his change of heart and intention to keep his bond with Odinga stronger.

In the new directive,President Uhuru Kenyatta says Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka will be entitled to a lump sum pay of Sh8.64 million, Sh720,000 in monthly  pension their entire life  and Sh108,000 in fuel allowance every month in addition to  other lavish benefits like fully furnished offices, 17 workers including chefs, accountants, secretaries and personal assistants at taxpayers’ expense.

The head of state has been under constant pressure to not only stop working with Raila Odinga but also to denounce the handshake, because Raila is a political rival

Raila and Kalonzo currently earn a monthly pension of nearly Sh 200,000 for the multiple terms they served as MPs for Lang’ata and Mwingi North constituencies respectively.The MPs’ pension will be stopped once the two start accessing the benefits for their pensions.

It can be remembered that at the height of Raila and Uhuru rivalry in 2015, the president refused to assent  to a bill that would have given Mr Musyoka and Mr Odinga the hefty perks, citing their participation in active politics. However,things have changed and the handshake can be attributed to this change of heart to reward both Raila and Kalonzo with their pension.