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House On The Aberdares Where Kibaki Will Retire
By Mwakilishi | Mon, 12/31/2012 05:22PM -0400
As he exits the murky world of politics, President Kibaki’s Sh500 million retire- ment home is now ready. President Kibaki will leave State House after next year’s March 4 General Election, ending a ten-year term in office. Works on the palatial home in Mweiga, along the Nyeri – Nyahururu highway, were completed in August this year and a contingent of the General Service Unit (GSU) has been deployed there.
After opening this year’s Central ASK show at Kabiruini grounds, President Kibaki toured the home and had lunch there. Since then, his children have visited the home on many occasions. The permanent home lies on a 100 acre of land, which is part of the 1,000 acres of land belonging to Sasini Mweiga Estate. Reports say President Kibaki bought the farm.
The head of the Sasini Mweiga Estate is Naushad Merali, who is his longtime friend. “The home has a swimming pool, Jacuzzi and other modern facilities. It is ready for use,” said a source from the farm. The home has a guest house, main house and secretariat offices. There are also security houses adjacent and a canteen for the workers. Well-manicured grounds, with a capacity of over 300 guests has also been established.
The home is easily accessible with a helipad where helicopters can land and fly uniterrupted. President Kibaki currently has homes in Nairobi’s Muthaiga and Othaya. It is not clear whether he will be alternating between the homes since he will still be visiting the Othaya Kanyange home. The President has visited the home secretly more than twice in the last three years.
“This tells many people that Kibaki might not retire in Othaya after all despite having a home which is well manned by the State and which is only about 25km away. Maybe he would like to rest without regular disturbances from his people who he have represent- ed for about 40 years in Parliament,” said a leader in Othaya.
President Kibaki will next year be retiring after 50 years in active politics. Kibaki entered elective politics in 1963, winning the Doonholm constituency - now Makadara - in Nairobi on a Kanu ticket. He shifted to Othaya in 1974, which he has represented uninterrupted. Kibaki won the presidential election by a landslide in 2002 to become Kenya’s third president. His re-election in 2007 was disputed. The constitution bars him from con- testing in 2012 as he will have served two five-year terms.
Kibaki can expect a luxurious life in retirement that includes 38 servants paid for by the public. He will collect a Sh17 million lump sum gratuity as a goodbye token from Government. This is calculated as a sum equal to his annual salary for the two terms served as President as stipulated in the Presidential Retirements Benefits Act (2003).
He will receive at least Sh950,000 tax-free pensions each month — calculated as 80 per cent of the salary of the next President. The Othaya MP will be entitled to a housing allowance of Sh300,000 a month, Sh300,000 each month as electricity, water and telephone allowances; and a further Sh200,000 monthly as entertainment allowance. He will also be entitled to two four-wheel drive cars with an engine capacity of 3,400 cc and two others of his choice with an engine capacity of at least 3,000 cc.
Kibaki will also receive Sh200,000 monthly as fuel allowance. A reputable insurance company will provide him and his wife at Government expense, with full medical and hospital cover providing for local and overseas treatment. He will be provided with a fully furnished “suitable” office and supplies. - The People
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Mon, 12/31/2012 11:40PM -0400
#2
This is insane. He will be an ex-employee of the kenyan people. Why does he have to get such luxurious treatment while most kenyans live in poverty? This is immoral and in someway foolish. The over 1 Billion shillings to be spent a year on his retirement and other leader's, is enough to address several glaring challenges the country faces.
Tue, 01/01/2013 12:40AM -0400
#3
I hope and pray that this is just a mere baaaaaaaad dream! The Kenyan plutocrats are severely ailing from moral bankruptcy!Quite diabolical! VP house also costed tax-payer more then half a billion excluding maintenance fees/benefits! Kenyan taxpayers should not settle for complacency but peacefully fight for their rights.
Tue, 01/01/2013 01:26AM -0400
#4
This is so so sad, why cant this people ever learn from people like Mandela what leadership is all about?
Tue, 01/01/2013 01:28AM -0400
#5
Dear jesus,pliz do not gv us retiring Presidents too if often. Coz they r a biiiiigggg cost we cannot afford. Let them die in office , or be reelected coz thats goin tko save us alot if dough.else let them die soon aftr retirement. If not then our option is to elect ICC culprits who we do not hv to pay while they r in jail in holland.
Wed, 01/02/2013 04:24AM -0400
#6
Hehehehehehe!!!!!!! Hahahahhahahaha!!!!! Phew! U made my day! Thz too funny!!!! Correction though, the Jubilee team has all the numbers and Raila cannot possibly win. Uhuru and Ruto start with 5.5 million votes - 4 million for uhuru and 1.5 million for Ruto. While Raila starts with 1.3 million votes from nyanza combined with 1 million votes for Kalonzo giving Raila 2.3 million votes to start with. Jubilee already has hit him by two and a half times right at the starting line. And don't forget the entire ODM Pentagon team is now in Jubilee with the exception of Mudavadi, who might yet just join them still.
I am still undecided, but will probably give my vote to either Mudavadi or the team with the larger numbers - i.e Jubilee.
Wed, 01/02/2013 06:04PM -0400
#7
This is why everyone want to be a president. I'd suggest retired presidents stay in Kibera or Dandora sewage. Kenya civil servants retire to die with nothing while some fat cats earning hefty package retire to consume all our taxes. Being a president is a sacrifice and no retirement should come with it. for fairness lets have a retirement package for all sons and daughters of Kenya that have spent their lives tarmacking. Arggggg!!!
Mon, 01/14/2013 06:30PM -0400
#8
next to his palace the neighbours are living in poverty. Kieni being one of the poorest constituency. this palace is bigger than state house for someone going on retirement I wonder who has paid the 500 millions He must be blind and deaf of the common man struggle to get bread on the table . to afford medical fee, to send a child to school . How dare he? may he live to regret.
Sun, 01/27/2013 06:41PM -0400
#9
Allank, Kenyans can do something about this problem on March 4th but unfortunately ,we are too good about complaining and whining and squandering opportunities like the one infront of us - reject all these people at the polls and vote in people whom you think in your God given sober and well informed judgement are true and dedicated to championing the causes of people like you and me - poor and needy.
Another question for this government and Kibaki as they exit the scene - When you go home and bask in the grandour of retirement like your Shs.500 Million Mweiga home ,do you ever think of those IDP's who are where they are because they offered and agreed to take bullets on your behalf and that of Amolo Odinga? Do you ever think of children of those parents who cannot go to school for lack of fees? Do you ever think of those families that have voted for you over the years so that you may be where you are today yet they cannot afford to put food for their families on the table? Those families grappling with poverty due to lack of work(employment)?
These are just but a few of the many questions that I have for those seeking our votes on March 4,2013. My advise to my fellow Kenyans, let us reject them all at the ballot and elect those whom we think can better our lives. Let us stop the culture of recycling political leaders every five years.
Kenyans,my conscience tells me that we can do better, because we deserve better!
Mon, 04/08/2013 02:41PM -0400
#10
Patience pays.James1:2 says "My friends,be glad even if you have a lot of trouble. 3) You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4) But you must learn to endure every thing so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. President Kibaki has been a good example of enduring patiently .God bless him. He deserves the package.
Those who were there in 1997 can testify and agree with the Gikuyu saying" Maari guoya mainukiire nyina. People had nicknamed him General Kiguoya but look at the outcome!
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