The National Treasury of Kenya has designated approximately $240,000 for the construction of a mausoleum to memorialize the country’s late former President, Mwai Kibaki, according to recent budget disclosures.
Kibaki, who led Kenya as its third president, passed away at the age of 90 on April 22, 2022, and was later interred in his ancestral Othaya home on April 30. His funeral, a state ceremony replete with military honors, was a testament to his influence on the nation.
The funding for Kibaki’s mausoleum is included in the approved budget estimates for the fiscal year 2022/23, marking the second major financial commitment by the Kenyan government towards honoring the late President within a year.
Previously, in April last year, the Treasury disbursed approximately $2.6 million through a supplementary budget for Kibaki’s state funeral. This substantial sum was revealed in a parliamentary document dated May 24, 2022, detailing that the funds were released on April 25 to cater for the unexpected costs incurred due to the former president’s demise.
In light of the unforeseen expenditure, the Treasury invoked Article 223 of the Kenyan Constitution. This article allows for the state to spend money not previously approved by Parliament, provided the lawmakers’ approval is sought within two months of the expenditure.
According to the same article, when the National Assembly approves the spending, an appropriation bill is introduced to account for the money spent. The funds for Kibaki’s burial were released through the State Department for Interior and Citizen Services.
While recent budget documents indicate the allocation for Kibaki’s mausoleum, the records do not yet reflect the expenses associated with the send-off of Kibaki’s predecessor, Daniel arap Moi, who passed away on February 4, 2020.
Both Kibaki and Moi, as retired heads of state, enjoyed generous pension benefits. In addition to a fleet of luxury cars and a fully furnished office, they each had a staff of about 40. Further perks included allowances for fuel, housing, and entertainment, all of which were funded by the Presidency budget.
The cost to the taxpayers for running the offices of Kibaki and Moi amounted to approximately $2.43 million in the fiscal year ending in June 2020, with staff compensation, excluding those seconded from the government, taking up about $1.26 million.