By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
The government has accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of seeking to be both the landlord and the tenant at the same time. This is in response to claims that he has declined to finance his office block.
Uhuru’s director of communications Kanze Dena on Monday claimed the government was yet to provide funds for the former President’s house.
Kanze further claims the government want Uhuru to use an office block that had previously been used by the third president the late Mwai Kibaki.
But in a swift response, the government spokesperson said, “The third retired president wants to be both landlord and tenant. It is an adventure that the law-abiding Kenya Kwanza government cannot engage in, as this is a serious conflict of interest.”
Reports indicate that Uhuru wants the government to pay for an office block at his house located near the state house.
Kanze Dena insists the law provides for the former President to be facilitated with office space at his place of choice.
“That house in Nyari was the preference of the late President. The government now wants to force us to use it,” she noted.
She now wants the government to come out clearly and state whether it is ready to meet its constitutional obligation or not.
Both sides have also expressed different views on the issue of providing vehicles and staff for the former President.
Kanze Dena in an interview with Citizen TV presented documents that indicated the process of acquiring new vehicles for Uhuru has been ongoing since 2023.
This is despite the government spokesperson previously claiming that vehicles currently being used by Uhuru were befitting.
“We had communication with the state house in regards to the issue of the vehicle that went to the point of us choosing the colour and type of vehicles that the government was to buy,” Kanze said during the interview.