Kibaki receives more retirement goodies

President Mwai Kibaki (third right) receives a gift from information minister Samuel Poghisio (second left) as head of public service Francis Kimemia (second right) and immediate former public service minister Dalmas Otieno look on during the official farewell luncheon hosted by public service in his honour at state house gardens on March 05, 2013. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL   NATION MEDIA GROUP

By LUCAS BARASA lbarasa@ke.nationmedia.com 

IN SUMMARY

• Speakers praise president as a cool and collected leader who served as Kenya’s symbol of national unity
• Former Othaya MP will officially receive items after Tuesday when he is no longer a State officer

President Kibaki was on Friday sent home with a basketfull of goodies to enjoy in his retirement.

The National Oil Corporation will build a petrol station for President Kibaki at a place of his choice while the Ministry of Fisheries is to construct four fish ponds for him.

He was also presented with an aquarium at a colourful luncheon hosted by top public servants in his honour at State House Nairobi.

The Head of State who is set to officially hand over to President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, was also given two dairy cows and four boran bulls. First Lady Lucy Kibaki was also feted.

The National Youth Service is to also sink a borehole for the outgoing President with NYS officials saying the equipment for the work will be on site in Mweiga, Nyeri County.

Present were Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, but Prime Minister Raila Odinga was not present as he was in Kisumu.

President Kibaki was given two digital television sets by the Ministry of Information and Communications and a number of books. Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo said one of the TVs will be in Kibaki’s bedroom while the other is for the living room.

The University of Nairobi is to establish a library at President Kibaki’s home. The university will further give a copy of each of the books it has published to President Kibaki, Higher Education PS Crispus Kiamba said.

President Kibaki was further awarded two high tech massage chairs.

Former Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno said a carving of lion given to President Kibaki symbolised his strength and patience.

Kisii University gave President Kibaki a soapstone carving of a giraffe, which the Vice-Chancellor said showed he would continue towering over Kenyans even in retirement.

President Kibaki also received assorted carvings from various other institutions at the function attended by 1,300 top public servants.

National Oil managing director Sumayya Athmani said the petrol station, a sign of appreciation for the huge expansion of the parastatal during Kibaki’s tenure, would be built in the next three months.

Mr Otieno said some of the items donated to President Kibaki will be delivered on Tuesday when he will no longer be a state officer as the costs of the items exceed the limit stated by the Ethics and Economics Crimes Act.

Article 76(1) of the Constitution also reads; “A gift or donation to a State Officer on a public or official occasion is a gift or donation to the Republic and shall be delivered to the State unless exempted under an act of Parliament.”

Similarly, Section 11 (3) of the Public Officers Ethics Act states: “A public officer may accept a gift given to him in his official capacity, but unless the gift is a non-monetary that does not exceed the value prescribed by regulation, such gift shall be deemed to be a gift of the Public Officers Organisation.”

A jovial and smiling President Kibaki accepted the gifts as he joked in Kiswahili “nitazichukua (I will keep them).”

Mr Musyoka said although President Kibaki was retiring, he had not tired and that the Judiciary did well by giving him golf sticks to continue playing the game. On Friday, President Kibaki won accolades from various speakers over his leadership in the last 10 yearsHe was described as humble, patient leader, visionary, a statesman and impervious to insults.

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