The failure of the ODM Leader Raila Amolo Odinga to return the vehicle he was given during his tenure as Prime Minister and the job at the African Union as a special envoy has seen the National Treasury freezing his pension perks.
Raila and Treasury are now at a stalemate over the matter. It is reported that the Luo Political kingpin is already enjoying similar perks after he landed the AU job.
The decision of the state to freeze the pension has already faced opposition from Odinga’s secretariat. Raila was expected to receive perks which include 17 workers, fully furnished offices, medical insurance and fuel allowance.
The workers were to be hired using taxpayers' funds before the new development. The Treasury now says that Raila secured the job after he was accorded the support by the Kenyan government hence he is not entitled to the pension perks as promised earlier on.
An official from the Treasury insisted that Raila is not entitled to the benefits. The move is likely to affect the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila.
“We are ready to pay Mr Odinga his monthly pension and not the benefits because he is already enjoying the perks from the AU,” said the official.
“Paying the benefits will amount to double allocation. How do we go back to the IG to seek for additional security yet the same office has offered Mr Odinga police for protection due to the AU job?”
Former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka was also listed among the beneficiaries of the pension perks for serving the government in the past.