Treasury ‘paid billions’ for Raila’s TWO AU offices, Ruto
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Ruto administration says the National Treasury paid at least Sh2 billion for Azimio leader Raila’s two AU offices
Ruto administration says the National Treasury paid at least Sh2 billion for Azimio leader Raila’s two AU offices.
President William Ruto’s government has claimed opposition leader Raila Odinga’s African Union role that ended this week could have cost the Kenyan taxpayer at least Sh2 billion.
With the support of former president Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila was appointed to the prominent position on October 20, 2018, putting him in the center of Africa’s efforts to ensure the completion of its transnational highway corridors and realize its dream of a continental high-speed train, among other plans.
However, until the AU’s decision to terminate the contract on Wednesday—in what diplomatic sources described as a “polite termination” due to Mr. Odinga’s recent political activities—details of the funding and the operations of the office had largely remained under wraps.
The opposition leader, however, claimed that the decision was made because of “other pressing matters.”
On Friday, 24, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa stirred the debate with a claim that the government had spent Sh600 million annually to run Mr. Odinga’s AU role.
This, he said, was money remitted by Kenya through the continental body that has its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mr. Ichung’wa said Kenyan taxpayers had been footing the bills for Raila’s AU role, in his two offices in Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
“The Kenyan taxpayers have been paying for his allowances, travel, office, and perks,” Mr. Ichung’wa said.
The disbursements, Mr. Ichung’wa said, had been released up to the end of this financial year ending in June.
“It is after it was clear that this government had no interest in further remitting money for an office that was not adding value that this was stopped. But this year’s money, they had already made sure it had been disbursed,” said the National Assembly Majority Leader.
An Auditor General’s report tabled in Parliament showed Kenya paid Sh4.9 billion in the year to June 2021 in subscriptions to the African Union and other international organizations, highlighting the burden taxpayers shoulder to maintain the country’s membership of various global bodies.
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The parliamentary report shows that in the financial year to June 2021, Kenya sent two tranches—Sh217 million, and another Sh655 million—to the AU.
There were, however, no specific details of what the money was for and if indeed this is the budget Mr. Ichung’wa claims was used by the AU to facilitate Mr. Odinga’s role.
Whether Odinga’s AU office and role were funded by taxpayers was a subject of debate in 2019 when the National Treasury mooted stopping his retirement perks over concern that he was earning double perks.
The perks cited were medical insurance, fuel allowance, fully furnished offices, and 17 workers, including chefs, security, accountants, secretaries, and personal assistants, all hired at taxpayers’ expense.
In addition to these, the AU was also providing the opposition chief with medical cover, staff, and cars.
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