Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has taken to social media to complain about his finances despite working in the public sector for more than 45 years.
In a candid post on his Twitter account on Sunday, November 1, he disclosed that he did not have any pension scheme despite his long service to the nation.
“I worked at UoN for 25 years, but got no pension. The rule was; serve for 15 years and be 50 of age but I was 48. Since I did not serve as MP for two terms, I missed a pension. Governors have no pension. 45 years of public work, no pension. Every Kenyan deserves a pension per the law,” his tweet read.
His revelation raised reactions from members of the public, some who understood his predicament while others criticised.
“Only permanent employees deserve a pension. Elective posts are not permanent. They are positions on contract. The political class already earns way above what they should. Use some of that to fund your own personal pension schemes,” Gorani Nekishon suggested.
The Council of Governors and County Assemblies Forum have been pushing for an exclusive pensions scheme for governors, speakers, and MCAs who have served for at least two terms.
The CoG is now in the process of drafting a Pension Bill and is urging the County Assemblies to support the proposal that will lead to the creation of the County Pension Fund. A number of those voted out during elections return home with no clear future financial plan
According to a 2017 Kenya Gazette Notice, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) stated that governors are entitled to a monthly gross pay of Ksh 924,000.
Regarding retirement, the SRC says that governors should be paid a service gratuity at the rate of 31% of the basic remuneration package for the term served.
County bosses have Life and Personal Accident insurance covers for a value equivalent to three times their annual salaries
Governors are housed by the government and also benefit from a mortgage of up to Ksh40 million which must be fully paid by the end of the governor's term.
The county heads are at liberty to take car loans of up to Ksh10 million and also get to splash Ksh 20,000 on airtime.
