Former senior officials in Kenya government including Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moody Awori, are among those who will feel the pinch once the executive slashes its spending on retired top state officers as part of a move to cut recurrent expenditure.

Latest 2025/26 budget projections show that the former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s retirement benefits will be slashed by KES94.6 million, if Parliament approves new spending plan drawn by the National Treasury.

According to the budget estimates tabled in the national assembly, Kenyatta’s allocation will fall from KES371.46 million to KES 276.85 million in the financial year starting July. 

“Treasury proposes to cut Kenyatta’s foreign travel budget by KES46.5 million, insurance by KES 23 million, domestic travel by KES11 million, fuel by KES7.5 million and hospitality by KES6 million,” reads the 2025/26 budget estimates.

Raila Odinga, who was prime minister between 2008 and 2013, will also see his allocation slashed from KES87.2 million to KES 63.27 million, as the treasury plans to cut KES 23.9 million from his budget. this amount will be drawn from insurance (KES20 million), domestic travel (from KES 2.4 million to KES1.8 million), and hospitality (from KES2 million to KES1.53 million).

For former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka, his current allocation of KES81.36 million annually will be reduced by KES28.4 million to KES52.9 million. insurance costs will take the largest cut of KES20 million, while domestic travel funding will be lowered from KES3.25 million to KES2.06 million.

Meanwhile, former vice president Moody Awori will face a cut of KES20.28 million. this will reduce his allocation from KES74.2 million to KES53.9 million. notably, this adjustment will place Awori’s budget above that of Musyoka, reversing their previous ranking in terms of office allocations.

In total, the treasury is proposing to slash KES167.2 million from the four offices, with the cuts to Kenyatta’s benefits accounting for almost more than a half of the total reduction.

Additionally, these propositions come amid heightened political tension between the allies of president ruto and the former president, who recently criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration’s handling of the economy and urged the youth to speak up about their grievances. the remarks drew fierce criticism from the ruling coalition, with some leaders calling for the withdrawal of his pension and even alleging that he was inciting the youths to protest again.

Notably, the government provides retired presidents, prime ministers, and vice presidents with monthly allocations to run their offices, pay staff, fuel and maintain official vehicles, cover travel expenses, and cater for entertainment. they are also entitled to monthly pensions that are pegged at 80 percent of the salaries they earned while in office.

Moreover, former presidents are also entitled to an extensive support staff of up to 34, including two personal assistants, four secretaries, four messengers, four drivers and bodyguards. they also receive four vehicles, including two limousines, that are replaced every four years, fully furnished offices and a comprehensive medical cover.

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