Kenya’s revised national budget has retained funding for the office of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, nearly five months after his death on October 15. Budget documents tabled in Parliament show that the allocation for the office remains largely intact, highlighting the legal and administrative complexities surrounding retirement benefits for former senior state officials.
The supplementary budget reduced the office allocation slightly from Sh63.27 million to Sh58.27 million, reflecting a Sh5 million reduction in insurance costs. Aside from this adjustment, the overall funding structure for the office remains unchanged for the financial year ending in June. The retention of the allocation mirrors past precedents in Kenya’s public finance management, where funding for offices of deceased senior officials continues until the end of the fiscal cycle to allow administrative transitions.
In addition to the office allocation, the Treasury has maintained Sh86.4 million for pensions and benefits for former vice-presidents and the former prime minister. Beneficiaries of this allocation include former vice-presidents such as Moody Awori and Kalonzo Musyoka, whose retirement packages remain part of the State’s obligations under Kenya’s pension framework for senior public officials.
Mr Odinga had been receiving retirement benefits since 2021, following the completion of his term as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 under the coalition government led by former President Mwai Kibaki. The benefits package included multiple state-supported privileges such as three vehicles, a fully furnished office, fuel allowances, and a support staff of about 17 employees. These workers included security personnel, chefs, accountants, personal assistants, secretaries, and other support staff tasked with maintaining the office operations.
Budget breakdowns for the current financial year show that the office of the former prime minister will receive Sh8 million for staff salaries, Sh14.8 million for rent, Sh4.25 million for fuel, and Sh2.6 million for travel and communication expenses. The vehicles assigned to the office include two saloon cars and one four-wheel-drive vehicle, supported by three drivers and subject to replacement every four years, with maintenance costs covered by the State.
Kenyan law provides specific retirement entitlements for former prime ministers, including a monthly pension equivalent to 80 percent of their final salary, a lump sum payment equal to 12 months of their last salary, security services, medical insurance, and diplomatic passports for the former official and their spouse. Upon the death of the beneficiary, the surviving spouse becomes eligible for half of the monthly pension immediately.
The current budget allocations also reflect broader state spending on retirement benefits for senior leaders. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has been allocated Sh271.8 million for retirement benefits, including the maintenance of a fleet of vehicles, office operations, and staff support, in addition to an annual pension of Sh16.7 million, equivalent to Sh1.39 million per month. Meanwhile, taxpayers are expected to spend Sh48.9 million on office and staff costs for Moody Awori and Sh47.9 million for Kalonzo Musyoka within the same financial year.
Kenya has historically faced scrutiny over the cost of maintaining retirement benefits for former leaders. Allocations increased significantly in recent years as the government simultaneously funded benefits for past presidents such as Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki. The continued funding of these offices reflects both legal commitments and evolving political arrangements tied to the retirement privileges granted to senior public officials.
The decision to retain the allocation for the former prime minister’s office illustrates the intersection between statutory entitlements, administrative continuity, and public finance obligations within Kenya’s budget framework.
