Nelson Koech, the Member of Parliament for Belgut, has criticized former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent demands for funding, suggesting that Kenyatta is exaggerating the issue. This criticism follows Kenyatta’s statement through his spokesperson, Kanze Dena, claiming that his office has not received the necessary budgetary allocations, forcing him to cover expenses that should be state-funded.
On Tuesday, Koech dismissed Kenyatta’s complaints as a political maneuver, arguing that Kenyatta should seek resolution through official channels rather than making public accusations. Despite Kenyatta’s assertion that the government has ignored his requests, Koech maintains that addressing the matter formally is the appropriate course of action.
“I find it extremely sensational it is whipping emotions, it is speaking politics not speaking the fact of the matter,” said Koech on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show.
“Uhuru Kenyatta should be the last person to demand for his pension. There is a code of conduct for all civil servants and that is why you have not heard complaints from the likes of Moody Awori who benefits from the same scheme or even Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga.”
The legislator further opined that Mr. Kenyatta’s family has the privilege of amassing a bulky net worth and he can easily sustain himself as he awaits action from the state.
Koech argued that it was insensitive for the former president to demand a huge budgetary allocation while the nation is reeling from an economic crunch.
“It is unfair what he is demanding is that his office in Caledonia should be paid. He wants to be the landlord at the same time the tenant and he wants to be paid he has been told to move to Nyari, he has refused,” Koech argued.
“Kenyans are suffering and it is important to understand where people are. It is unfair for a [former] president who you can see is enjoying largesse from the government travelling the world to still demand for money when he knows the state of the economy.”
Kenyatta’s office said that the state owes them over Ksh.1 billion that has not been availed in the last two years.
“In the year 2022/2023 parliament allocated to this office Ksh.655 million. To date the office can only confirm spending of Ksh.28 million spread across the payment of an allowance for domestic travel as well as facilitation of the 2 official trips that have been honoured so far,” Dena told reporters.
“This is approximately 4.4 per cent of the total budget. This does not include payment of salaries and medical insurance. No other monies spent can be accounted for by this office.”
Mr. Kenyatta also noted that he has been driving old cars and needs new ones, arguing that the state is not adhering to provisions in the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act.
“The vehicles allocated to the former President were not new in fact they were part of the motorcade when he left Kasarani [stadium] during the inauguration ceremony and this was agreed that he uses the vehicles on a transitional basis they begin the process of procuring new vehicles.”
Mr. Kenyatta said he uses 2 Toyota Land Cruisers, a Mercedes Benz, and a Range Rover that is being used by former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
The government, however, fought back the allegations as Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura in a statement issued Monday evening said Kenyatta’s office has been issued with 14 vehicles which the State House fuels and maintains.
“They also alleged falsely that their fuel cards have been blocked. We, however, put it on record that the vehicles are fuelled through the State House Master Card. Our records show that several vehicles were fuelled as recently as May 15, 2024,” said Mwaura.
He said the government has records of Kenyatta’s office’s care service history dating to as recent as May 15, 2024.
