Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has accused the government of frustrating former state officers through the handling of their retirement benefits, saying he plans to formally write to President William Ruto over the matter.

Speaking during a morning interview on Kameme TV on Monday, May 11, 2026, Kalonzo said it was wrong for the Office of the President to continue controlling benefits for retired leaders who may later become political opponents of the sitting administration.

Kalonzo, who served as Kenya’s vice president and is now one of the co-principals of the United Alternative Government coalition seeking to challenge Ruto in the 2027 General Election, said the current arrangement puts former leaders in a difficult position.

He claimed some of the benefits due to him as a former vice president had either been delayed or inconsistently provided.

“After four years, the vehicle I use still depends on whether fuel is provided or not. Sometimes they fuel it, sometimes they do not,” Kalonzo said.

“By the way, I will write to Ruto myself and tell him that because I am now your competitor, your State House controller cannot continue being my accounting officer.”

Kalonzo questioned why benefits for retired leaders were still being managed from State House instead of independent government institutions.

“All these people – Maraga, Uhuru, Ole Kaparo and others covered under the Retirement Benefits Act – should not have their affairs controlled from State House,” he said.

“This should be under the Treasury, either under the Parliamentary Service Commission or the National Treasury. It cannot continue being State House.”

The former vice president said the issue had become emotionally draining for some retired leaders.

“It is a very painful subject. Tunakaliwa kimabavu,” he said.

He also appeared to criticise what he described as arrogance within government circles.

“Si ulisikia kuna mtu alisema ngamia zote ni zake? But they must know that pride comes before a fall,” he added.

Retirees retain political rights

During the interview, Kalonzo also dismissed claims that retired presidents should stay away from politics after leaving office.

The Wiper leader was responding to claims that there was a law requiring former presidents to stop engaging in politics six months after leaving office.

“No, that’s ridiculous,” Kalonzo said.

“And even if there is such a law which some people may want to use, that cannot deny me or any retired leader our political rights.”

He insisted that the Constitution protects the freedom of expression and political participation of all Kenyans, including retired presidents and former deputy presidents.

“Any law which says ‘shut up your mouth’ is unconstitutional. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any law inconsistent with it is void,” he said.

Kalonzo dismisses Uhuru funding

Kalonzo further defended the Fourth President Uhuru Kenyatta against claims that he was financing opposition political activities.

Kalonzo dismissed the claims and said opposition activities were funded through support from ordinary Kenyans and party structures.

“I think Edwin Sifuna responded very well to that question,” Kalonzo said.

“We have many friends. Do I need Uhuru Kenyatta to fund me to go to Yatta for my meeting?”

He cited the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya summit held at the SKM Command Centre as an example of how opposition leaders organised events with minimal resources.

“We had minimal expenditure, but we still did what we needed to do,” he said.

Kalonzo, however, said there would be nothing wrong if Uhuru chose to contribute to a political event in his personal capacity, just like any other Kenyan.

“As a party leader, he may decide to contribute something small, like during an event in Narok recently. There is nothing wrong with that,” he said.

He maintained that it was inaccurate to claim that Uhuru was funding the opposition political activities.

Kalonzo targets election firms

During the same interview, Kalonzo Musyoka also renewed his criticism of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, demanding the removal of election technology firm Smartmatic and Greek ballot printing company Inform Lykos ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Kalonzo accused the IEBC of failing to consult opposition stakeholders despite earlier agreements to form joint committees. He said the commission was operating under outside influence and warned that public trust in the electoral process would be damaged if concerns over the voter register, ballot printing and election technology were ignored.

The Wiper leader also called for a full audit of the voter register and threatened legal action if the IEBC failed to convene a broad stakeholder forum.