A fresh political storm is brewing in Parliament after Samson Cherargei tabled a motion seeking to withdraw the retirement benefits of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Nandi Senator argues that Kenyatta has violated provisions of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act by engaging in active partisan politics—an action he says undermines both the law and the dignity of the retired presidency.
Allegations of Partisan Political Engagement
In the motion, Cherargei claims that since leaving office, Kenyatta has stepped beyond the legally expected role of a retired Head of State, which is largely advisory and non-partisan.
He alleges that the former president has issued public statements seen as endorsing or opposing political actors and also participated in mobilization activities tied to ongoing political contests. He also added that Kenyatta has continued to maintain visible involvement in party politics across the country.
According to the senator, such conduct directly contravenes Section 6 of the Act, which restricts retired presidents from engaging in active political competition.
Call for Audit and Possible Withdrawal of Benefits
Cherargei is now pushing for concrete action, including:
- Withdrawal or reduction of Kenyatta’s state-funded retirement benefits
- A comprehensive audit by the Office of the Auditor-General
- Submission of a report to Parliament within 60 days
He argues that if violations are confirmed, public funds currently allocated to the former president should be redirected to benefit Kenyan citizens.
“There is a need to ensure strict compliance with the law and uphold accountability in the use of public resources,” Cherargei states in the motion.
Uhuru Defends His Political Position
The move comes amid growing scrutiny of Kenyatta’s recent political remarks. Speaking on May 1 during a gathering in Narok, the former president defended his actions, insisting he remains within his rights.
“I am not in active politics, but I have a right to campaign for my party. I seek no elective seat, but I am a Jubilee member,” he said.
Kenyatta also criticised politicians he accused of interfering with other political parties instead of promoting their own agendas, warning against what he described as opportunistic politics.
Political Reactions and Historical Parallels
His remarks have drawn criticism from leaders aligned with the current administration, further deepening political divisions.
However, tensions involving retired presidents and active politics are not new in Kenya.
In 2010, former President Mwai Kibaki publicly rebuked his predecessor Daniel arap Moi for campaigning against the proposed constitution during the referendum period.
Speaking at a “Yes” rally in Embu, Kibaki remarked on Moi’s “No” campaign, stating, “Wazee wengine wanazunguka wakisema katiba ni mbaya (Some old men are moving around saying the constitution is bad),” adding that he felt sorry for Moi for embarrassing himself.
At the time, Kibaki urged Moi to refrain from opposing the draft, accusing him of misleading the public, while Moi defended his involvement as a civic duty. He accused Kibaki of breaking his own 2002 promise to deliver a new constitution within 100 days.
This incident followed the 2005 referendum, where Moi also played a major role in the defeat of a previous draft constitution supported by Kibaki, leading to a major political setback for the incumbent administration.
