Salaries of staff attached to former presidents Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Moi have for the first time crossed the Ksh100 million mark.
The National Treasury has allocated the retired presidents’ workers Ksh117.3 million for salaries and allowances for the year starting July.
The 2018/2019 financial year saw the staff salaries gobble up Ksh95 million. The increased budget allocations reflect a 24.8 percent growth.
The law entitles them to two personal assistants, four secretaries, four messengers, four drivers, housekeepers, home cleaners and bodyguards, bringing the total staff count to 34 office workers excluding security guards who should be at least six.
The pay will push their office budget to Ksh243 million, bringing to light the taxpayer burden of keeping the two happy in retirement, given they also receive a pension of Ksh74 million every year.
Operating costs for Kibaki’s office will rise to Ksh108.9 million, from Ksh85 million. Moi's office expenses will increase to Ksh79.3 million from Ksh75 million.
Kibaki’s Nairobi office was bought at Ksh250 million while Moi has an office at Kabarnet Gardens, off Ngong Road, which he hardly visits.
The hefty packages extended to the two leaders has been criticised by many Kenyans on the grounds that the retired presidents left office as rich men with property worth billions of shillings and vast business interests.
Kibaki retired from the presidency in 2013 after serving two five-year terms and Moi retired in 2002 having been in power for 24 years.
The two retired president's annual pay of Ksh74 million translates to Ksh3 million monthly which is more that President Uhuru Kenyatta's salary.
