Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura. | PHOTO: @MwauraIsaac1/X
In Summary:
- The government has provided an explanation as to why Kanze Dena and George Kariuki, aides to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, have not received their salaries.
- Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura revealed that Uhuru has not forwarded the names of Dena and Kariuki to the State House Comptroller for processing, leading to the delay in their salary payments.
The government has shed light on the reasons behind the delay in salary payments for Kanze Dena and George Kariuki, aides to former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In a statement, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura clarified the situation, revealing that while Uhuru’s staff are on the government payroll, Dena and Kariuki have yet to receive their salaries due to a specific issue.
According to Mwaura, the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act entitles a former President to 34 staff members who must be public servants. Currently, 33 staff members are in office, but the names of Dena and Kariuki have not been forwarded to the State House Comptroller by Uhuru for processing.
“The Office of the former President confirms that their staff are on the government payroll. The Presidential Retirement Benefits Act specifies that a former President should have 34 staff. Already, 33 are in office. The Act also specifies that staff who work in the Office of the Retired President must be public servants,” Mwaura stated.
“On George Kariuki and Kanze Dena, their names have not been forwarded to the State House Comptroller by the retired President for processing,” he added, explaining the reason for the delay in their salary payments.
Spokesperson Kanze Dena. Image: COURTESY
Earlier, Kanze Dena had expressed her inability to provide a precise figure on the amount of unpaid salaries they have accumulated.
Addressing the issue of Uhuru’s office, Mwaura revealed that the government had purchased an office in Nyari, Nairobi, specifically for the retired President in 2012 and 2013.
This office was previously used by the late President Mwai Kibaki for nine years, between 2013 and 2022.
Mwaura emphasized that the Nyari office is suitable for any retired President.
However, he stated that by rejecting this office and preferring that the government leases his private home, Uhuru is “inviting the government to violate procurement laws, regulations and procedures.”
On Monday, Dena had claimed that Uhuru had not been provided with a fully furnished and well-maintained office.
She stated that the State House had made it clear that the Nyari office should be the one Uhuru should occupy.
The government’s explanation sheds light on the specific reason behind the delayed salaries for Kanze Dena and George Kariuki, while also addressing the ongoing issue surrounding Uhuru’s official office as a retired President.