Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta's monthly State pension has been boosted to ksh679,800 despite fresh scrutiny of her family's multibillion-shilling fortune.

Mama Ngina's pension was increased from Sh568,218, acquired at public expense in 2018 for being the wife of Kenya's first president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, who died in 1978, according to Treasury data seen by Business Daily.

PHOTO | COURTESY Mama Ngina


The generous retirement perks provided to State authorities and individuals like Mama Ngina have been heavily criticised since they left the public government with immense riches, including prime houses worth billions of shillings and vast commercial interests.

The former First Lady's State payment is linked to legislation that provides for a spouse of a serving or retiring president to be paid 40% of the current salary provided to the sitting Head of State if their husband dies.

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PHOTO | COURTESY Mama Ngina

However, some attorneys believe the payment violates the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which went into force in January 2003.

They contend that the rule cannot be implemented retroactively, implying that it should apply to the spouse of a serving or retired president who died after 2003.

According to Presidency officials, Mrs Kenyatta began receiving the cash before her son, Uhuru Kenyatta, became President in 2013.