Ruto, who will get more than Sh80 million as his retirement package if the Bill goes through, urged Members of Parliament to shoot down the proposed legislation/FILE
Ruto, who will get more than Sh80 million as his retirement package if the Bill goes through, urged Members of Parliament to shoot down the proposed legislation.
He insisted that the country’s wage bill was already too high and the packages must be modest because retirees do not have to live an extravagant life.
“Retirement benefits are meant to make individuals live a fair life, but not an extravagant one,” he argued.
Ruto however said that the government supported any move to ensure public servants continued to live in dignity when they retired.
The Bill proposes that retired Deputy Presidents, retired Speakers of Parliament and their deputies, retired Chief Justices and their deputies, retired Attorneys General and retired Chiefs of the Kenya Defence Forces must continue earning eighty percent of the last monthly salary while in office.
If it is passed in its current form, they will also get a housing allowance equal to 15 percent of their last monthly salary and a lump sum calculated as a sum equal to one and a half years salary for each term in office.
A fuel allowance of 15 percent equal to the last monthly salary will also be paid.
”However, it is the position of the government that the wage Bill is sustainable. Consequently, any package for retirees must be modest and contextualised to the economic reality of the country,” said Ruto.
If the Bill is passed in its current form, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka will each get more than Sh80 million.
Former Speaker of Parliament Kenneth Marende will get more that Sh60 million which is also what Chief Justice Willy Mutunga will get upon retirement.
These State Officers will also get full medical cover providing for local and overseas treatment and a four wheel drive vehicle.
All their children and spouses will also be taken care of in the retirement packages.
Those who do not serve full terms will also get a gratuity calculated at 31 percent of the entitled person’s salary while in office among other benefits.
This includes former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza.
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