FORMER President Mwai Kibaki appears reluctant to leave Nairobi and retire to his new Sh500 million home at Mweiga on the Nyeri-Nyahururu road.
Kibaki has been living in his Muthaiga home on Chui Road since he handed over power to President Uhuru Kenyatta on April 9. He has turned down several offers by elders from Nyeri to organise a homecoming party for him.
His personal assistant Professor Nick Wanjohi denied yesterday that the retired President was not keen on going to Nyeri. “The former President is busy attending to personal and business issues and is free to spend his time wherever he pleases,” said Wanjohi..
The first homecoming ceremony was planned for the weekend after he handed over power but Kibaki neither declined nor confirmed his availability.
“We have met him twice in Nairobi and asked him to give us a date when we can organize for his homecoming but he has simply laughed our request. He asked asked to simply enjoy a cup of tea with him,” said one elder.
Kibaki has been spending time in Nairobi with his family members, friends and relatives. Yesterday his eldest son Jimi told the Star that his father has been busy attending to family and business issues.
“Mzee has retired from Public Service but he has plenty of work to do as a private citizen. He has interests in many sectors of the Kenya economy including farming, finance, real estate, education as well as the Mwai Kibaki Foundation. Mzee is too busy to be concerned,” said Jimi.
“Let us all spend our energy and time working as hard as the former President instead of tracking his movement,” said Jimi. This week Kibaki has attending several functions including a luncheon organised for him yesterday by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance at Safari Park.
On Thursday he also traveled by road to Mbooni to bury his former cabinet minister Minister Mutula Kilonzo having attended his memorial service the previous day. On Tuesday Kibaki visited and consoled Kilonzo’s family at his Gigiri home in Nairobi.
Kibaki’s palatial new home is situated along Nyeri – Mweiga highway and was finished a year ago. It is normally heavily guarded by a General Service Unit (GSU).
The 1,000 acre farm was donated to him in 2010 by Sasini Estates, controlled by businessman Naushad Meerali. It is situated just next to Mweiga airstrip and has a swimming pool, jacuzzi, guest house, secretariat offices, canteen for workers, and accommodation for security officers.
Shortly after Kibaki handed over to Uhuru, new furniture was ferried to the home. The estate previously grew coffee and reared grade cows. It is 25 kilometres from his other country home at Othaya Kanyange. Kibaki can expect a luxurious life in retirement with 38 servants paid by the public.
He will collect a Sh17 million lump sum gratuity as a goodbye token. He was expected to receive Sh950,000 tax-free pension each month — calculated as 80 per cent of the salary of the present President. However this amount may reduce if the Salaries and Remuneration Commission has cut the salary for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He will be entitled to a housing allowance of Sh300,000 a month; Sh300,000 each month as electricity, water and telephone allowances; and a further Sh200,000 monthly as entertainment allowance. He will also be entitled to two four-wheel drive cars with an engine capacity of 3,400 cc and two others of his choice with an engine capacity of at least 3,000 cc.
Kibaki will receive Sh200,000 monthly as fuel allowance. Kibaki will be provided with a fully furnished ‘suitable’ office with office machines and supplies paid for by the taxpayer.
Servants to be provided by government include six officers for his personal security and six others to guard his homes. The others will be personal assistants (2), drivers (4), messengers (4), secretaries (4), cooks (2), housekeepers (2), gardeners (2), laundry persons (2), and house cleaners.
Source-the-star.co.ke
