Odinga, Musyoka to sue government over retirement perks

Odinga, Musyoka to sue government over retirement perks

A row over retirement perks including pensions for CORD principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka is now headed to the courts after an MP said he will head to the corridors of justice to fight for the rights of the duo to continue engaging in politics.

Odinga and Musyoka have also vowed to challenge the decision by Parliament to deny them the lucrative perks.

The Jubilee coalition legislators shot down the bill that seeks to grant the leaders their retirement perks saying the duo should first quit active politics if they are to benefit.

The legal battle to secure retirement perks for the former Prime Minister (Raila Odinga) and former Vice President (Kalonzo Musyoka) comes after the Jubilee legislators endorsed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s memorandum on legislation of the Retirement Benefits Bill, 2015.

President Kenyatta’s memorandum demanded that Odinga and Musyoka quit active politics in order to enjoy the benefits.

“We will be going to court to push for our retirement package, as the move by the President is illegal,” said Mr Musyoka.

Ugenya MP David Ochieng, who will be leading the charge in the corridors of justice, says he will base his case on the new law which he says contravenes articles 24 and 34 of the constitution on unfettered rights to participate in politics by any Kenyans.

“Any court that is properly guided, will not allow this kind of provision to stand. That is why am confident when I say we will go to court to make sure they are removed,” said Mr Ochieng.

Ochieng says he reads political mischief in the handling of the law by the leader of the majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale.

“Duale and his team will appeal to the President, while we head to the corridors of justice.”

Already, several Jubilee leaders, who on the floor of the house Thursday expressed their dissatisfaction with the apparent denial of the opposition leaders’ pension, have taken issue with President Kenyatta’s political advisors, whom they claim are misadvising him.

Odinga and Musyoka, who both have presidential ambitions, had earlier dismissed the new requirement to retire from politics in order to enjoy their retirement perks.

Others set to benefit from the scheme are former VPs Moody Awori and Musalia Mudavadi, as well as former speakers Francis Ole Kaparo and Kenneth Marende.

Alex Kubasu contributed to this report

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