Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina has tabled The Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which will make it difficult for the Inspector-General of Police to unilaterally withdraw the security detail for Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and other top State officers.
The bill seeks to make it difficult for the State to arbitrarily withdraw bodyguards of entitled former public servants such as the Prime Minister and Vice-Presidents.
“Where there is a need to reduce or alter the security arrangements of an entitled person, the Inspector-General of Police shall refer the matter to the joint committee on entitlements for approval,” reads part of the amendment.
Senator Kina proposes that the State officers in question be assigned armed security guards of their choice not less than six, and not exceeding 10.
[caption caption="Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina"]
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President Uhuru Kenyatta had declined to assent to the principal bill in May 2015, stating that Raila and Kalonzo ought to retire from active politics before enjoying their pension.
The 2015 principal Act does not bar retired designated State officers from receiving their benefits if they engage in politics.
According to Section 4, Parliament may do so on a motion supported by at least half of the members of the National Assembly.
“The amendment seeks to ensure the executive does not use alteration or modification of entitlements due to an entitled person as a tool to intimidate or maltreat the entitled person,” Senator Kina stated.
Senator Kina’s bill also promoted former vice-presidents who had been sidelined by the principal Act of 2015 from accessing their pension.
[caption caption="NASA leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka"]
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The proposal by Senator Kina now to ensure that the section of the Act that touches on the former VPs be amended to refer to a person who, having held the office of the Vice-President at any time after January 1, 1993, has ceased to hold office as such in the manner specified in the Constitution.
