A letter sent to Odinga by Interior and Coordination of National Government Secretary Joseph ole Lenku says the former premier should return eight cars in his possession/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 1 – Former PM Raila Odinga and ex-Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka have been assigned 12 bodyguards each and two cars for the security detail, but ordered to surrender luxury cars assigned to them by the government.
A letter sent to Odinga by Interior and Coordination of National Government Secretary Joseph ole Lenku says the former premier should return eight cars in his possession.
They include three Mercedes Benz cars, a Range Rover, three Prados, and a Nissan Sunny.
A similar letter to Musyoka asks him to return two four-wheel drive vehicles in his possession.
Through the letters dated July 26, Lenku says the security officers will cater for their personal security and their residences.
“In line with government policy, I wish to inform you that you have been allocated two government vehicles for use by the security officers attached to you,” said Lenku in the letter.
“I hope this communication has set the record straight with regard to your entitlement. For any further clarification, kindly contact the undersigned,” Lenku signed off.
The directive is likely to fuel a war of words after Odinga on Wednesday night insisted he was entitled to State privileges having served as Prime Minister of Kenya.
“I am a Prime Minister; I’ve been a Prime Minister and a co-partner in a government in this country. I deserve certain privileges. As you know the government minister has disowned that statement and I believe the minister not the so-called spokesman,” he said on arrival from the United States.
Politicians allied to the two personalities have in the past put pressure on the government accusing it of mistreating the former Prime Minister.
Odinga had also claimed of being denied VIP treatment at Kenyan airports.
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