The government’s directive asking former prime minister Raila Odinga and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka to return state-owned vehicles in their possession has sparked off backlash with Kalonzo accusing the government of selectively discriminating against them.
Kalonzo spoke as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga promised to act once he receives the notice from government.
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In 2013, the Kenyan government directed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to return a total of 10 state-owned vehicles that had been allocated to them during their tenure in office.
The directive was issued by then-Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government, Joseph ole Lenku, in line with government policy regarding the use of official vehicles by former senior government officials.
According to the directive, Odinga was required to return eight vehicles, including three Mercedes Benz cars, a Range Rover, three Toyota Prados, and a Nissan Sunny.
Musyoka was instructed to surrender two Toyota Prados. Both leaders were allocated two government vehicles for use by their security officers and were assigned 12 bodyguards each for their personal security and the security of their residences.
The government’s decision to reclaim the vehicles was met with mixed reactions. While some government officials defended the move as being in accordance with policy, others, including Odinga’s allies, expressed concerns about the treatment of the former leaders.
Odinga, upon his return from a trip to the United States, maintained that he was entitled to certain privileges due to his previous role as Prime Minister and a co-principal in the Grand Coalition government.
In response to the directive, Odinga returned five of the eight vehicles and sought clarification from the government regarding the status of the remaining vehicles.
His spokesman confirmed the return of the five vehicles and indicated that Odinga was awaiting further communication from the government on the matter.
Overall, the government’s directive to Odinga and Musyoka to return state-owned vehicles highlighted the ongoing discussions and policies concerning the entitlements and privileges of former senior government officials in Kenya.
