Former Presidents and Deputy Presidents in Kenya continue to receive retirement benefits after leaving office under laws that provide for pensions, allowances, vehicles, medical cover, security, and other privileges.
The benefits are provided under the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act for former Presidents and the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Act for former Deputy Presidents.
Under the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, a retired President is entitled to a monthly pension equal to 80 per cent of the monthly salary currently paid to the President.
The law also provides for several allowances, including entertainment, housing, fuel and utilities allowances, with the amounts pegged to percentages of the serving President’s salary.
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission’s remuneration structure lists the President’s monthly gross salary at KSh1,443,750, comprising a basic salary of KSh866,250, a house allowance of KSh350,000 and a salary market adjustment of KSh227,500.
Calculations that use the President’s basic salary put the 80 per cent pension at approximately KSh693,000 per month. However, the Act itself does not say “80 per cent of basic salary”; it refers to 80 per cent of the monthly salary currently paid to the President. This distinction is important when presenting the figure.
The law further provides for:
- A lump-sum payment equivalent to one year’s salary for every term served as President.
- An entertainment allowance equivalent to 15 per cent of the serving President’s monthly salary.
- A housing allowance equivalent to 23 per cent of the serving President’s monthly salary.
- A fuel allowance equivalent to 15 per cent of the serving President’s monthly salary.
- A utilities allowance equivalent to 23 per cent of the serving President’s monthly salary for electricity, water and telephone services.
- Suitable government-provided office space of up to 1,000 square metres, together with furniture, equipment and supplies.
- Two new vehicles, replaceable every three years.
- Two four-wheel-drive vehicles, also replaceable every three years.
- Full medical and hospital cover for the retired President, spouse and children under 18 years.
- Security, personal assistants, secretaries, drivers and other support staff.
The Act also provides for a diplomatic passport for the former President and spouse, local travel, an international travel allowance of up to four trips a year and access to VIP lounges at Kenyan airports.
Also Read: Millions Uhuru Kenyatta Earned as President and What He Gets in Retirement
How Much Does a Retired Deputy President Earn?
Former Deputy Presidents are covered under the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Act.
The law provides for a monthly pension equal to 80 per cent of the last monthly salary of the Deputy President while in office.
The Deputy President’s remuneration structure listed by SRC is KSh1,227,188 per month, consisting of a basic salary of KSh736,313, a house allowance of KSh300,000 and a salary market adjustment of KSh190,875.
Using the basic salary, the 80 per cent pension figure commonly cited is approximately KSh589,050 per month.
A retired Deputy President is also entitled to:
- A lump-sum payment equivalent to one year’s salary for each term served.
- Two saloon vehicles, replaceable every four years.
- One four-wheel-drive vehicle, replaceable every four years.
- A fuel allowance equivalent to 15 per cent of the current monthly salary of the office holder.
- Full medical and hospital cover, including local and overseas treatment, for the retired Deputy President and spouse.
- Two drivers, a personal assistant, an accountant and a secretary.
- Housekeepers, support staff, cooks, gardeners and cleaners.
- Armed security guards on request.
- Diplomatic passports for the retired Deputy President and spouse.
- Office space and office equipment.
- Vehicle maintenance expenses.
- Access to VIP Lounge II at airports in Kenya.
What Happens When a Former President or Deputy President Dies?
The Presidential Retirement Benefits Act provides for benefits to continue to a surviving spouse after the death of a serving or retired President who was receiving, or was entitled to, a pension under the Act.
A surviving spouse is entitled to benefits amounting to 50 per cent of the pension that the President was receiving or was entitled to receive.
Also Read: DP Kithure Kindiki’s Full Job Description, Salary, Allowances and Benefits in 2026
The law also provides for children’s pensions in specified circumstances. An eligible child includes one below 18 years, a child below 24 years undertaking full-time education, or a child who meets the dependency and incapacity conditions set out in the Act.
The Act further provides for an official funeral for a deceased retired President.
The retirement law for Deputy Presidents also provides for benefits for surviving spouses and eligible children in specified circumstances.
The Act defines a spouse to include a lawfully married spouse, including, where applicable, persons lawfully married under a religion or custom in which polygamy is permitted.
The law also provides for an official funeral for an entitled person upon death.
What About Impeachment?
The retirement benefits of a President or Deputy President can be affected by the circumstances under which they leave office. However, impeachment does not mean that a former office holder loses all retirement benefits.
For Deputy Presidents, the position changed after the Finance Act, 2023 repealed Section 4 of the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Act.
The repealed provision had allowed Parliament to withhold benefits from an entitled person in certain circumstances, including constitutional violations and gross misconduct.
The High Court had previously declared the provision unconstitutional, citing several constitutional grounds.
As a result, Section 4 no longer exists in the Deputy President retirement law to provide for automatic loss of retirement benefits following impeachment.
For former Presidents, however, the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act contains a specific provision allowing the National Assembly to withhold some or all retirement benefits in certain circumstances. The decision requires a motion supported by at least two-thirds of National Assembly members.
The grounds include where a President ceased to hold office after wilfully violating the Constitution or being guilty of gross misconduct.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
