While the Teachers Service Commission (TSC)continues to dispute the claim of 43 billion shillings in salaries and pension arrears by 52,000 retired teachers, three government officials are demanding to be given a four-wheel bullet-proof, 3000 cc engine capacity vehicle replaceable every four years,Sh1.6 million in monthly pension,and a saloon car of 1,800 cc.
After leaving office, Dr Mutunga publicly declared that he was worth Sh80 million. He added that he earned a net salary of Sh50 million in the five years that he served as CJ.
Treasury officials are in a standoff with two former Speakers of Parliament and a retired Chief Justice over their demands for lavish retirement perks that include a bullet-proof fuel guzzler, backdated retirement benefits and shift to a higher pension pay scale.
Former National Assembly Speaker Francis ole Kaparo has demanded, among his other generous pension benefits, an armoured four-wheel drive 3000 cc engine vehicle bought and fuelled by taxpayers. Former Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro and retired Chief Justice Willy Mutunga are also demanding additional millions in retirement benefits, arguing that the Treasury used wrong figures to calculate their exit packages and monthly pension payments
The two want the Pensions Department to base their pension payouts on their last gross salaries estimated at about Sh2 million and not the lower figures quoted by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which places the Speakers’ basic salary at Sh693,000 and that of the former Chief Justice at Sh796,732.
If implemented, the higher pay scale will offer Mr Ethuro and Dr Mutunga Sh1.6 million in monthly pension, lump sum payoffs of Sh24 million each and monthly fuel allowances of Sh300,000 each.
However, the Treasury says pension payouts are guided by the SRC pay scales that offer the former CJ an estimated monthly pension of Sh637,386, a lump sum payout of Sh15.9 million and monthly fuel allowance of Sh199,183. Similarly Mr Ethuro is entitled to a monthly pension of Sh554,400, a lump sum send-off of Sh13.8 million and monthly fuel allowance of Sh173,250.
The Deputy President and Designated State Officers Act provides hefty monthly pension payouts equivalent to 80 percent of the last salary of retired CJs and Speakers. This is in addition to a golden handshake equivalent to one-year salary and fuel allowance equivalent to 15 percent of their last pay.
If the Treasury yields to their demands, Mr Ethuro and Dr Mutunga’s monthly take home will surpass President Uhuru Kenyatta’s official salary of Sh1.4 million. It also puts the benefits of the two higher than the salary and benefits of top chief executives of State corporations listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange such as Kenya Power and KenGen.
Mr Kaparo’s push is emboldened by the law, which does not expressly ban armoured car benefits but only specifies the provision of a four-wheel, 3000 cc engine capacity vehicle replaceable every four years. He is also entitled to a saloon car of 1,800 cc. A 2,986 cc Toyota Prado LJ is currently retailing at Sh7.1 million, but additional millions are needed to turn it into an armoured car.
Car dealers say that it could cost an additional Sh9 million for top armour protection where the Prado is encased with ballistic steel that can withstand a barrage of bullets from an AK-47 rifle and pistol.
Is the former government workers