Uhuru Claims Ruto Gave Him Old Cars, Did Not Furnish Office & Harassed Employees At Midnight
According to her, no repairs were conducted at the office and the cars Uhuru was using for his travels were not new.
Marvin Chege 
The office of Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, June 10 uncovered shocking behind-the-scenes of how it has been subjected to suffering at the hands of President William Ruto's government.
Addressing journalists in a televised event, Kanze Dena, the director of Communications at Uhuru's office, denounced claims that State House had allocated Uhuru a fully-furnished office space and brand new cars complete with fueling financed by the state.
According to her, no repairs were conducted at the office and the cars Uhuru was using for his travels were not new.
Former State House spokesperson, Kanze Dena during a past address. /FILE
"On the issue of the retired President enjoying a fully furnished and maintained office space as alluded to in the statement, this took us by surprise because it is public knowledge that the State House has been very clear on the position of the office in Nyari as the only office that the President should use based on the fact the office has been bought by the government," Dena told the press.
"The statement that the former President enjoys a fully furnished and maintained office of his choice provided by the government is incorrect. To date, the office matter has never been addressed and has never been resolved."
Old Vehicles He Pays For Himself
Regarding the state of the vehicles, Dena disclosed that Uhuru was using the same vehicles he left with following the inauguration ceremony of President Ruto on September 13, 2022, where he handed over the instruments of power to his former junior.
Uhuru was allocated two Toyota Land Cruisers, one Mercedes Benz and one Range Rover for his personal use, which Dena noted were not new as per State House's alleged standards.
To make matters worse, the repairs on the vehicles as well as maintenance have never been undertaken by the current government, which was also accused of blocking fuel and repair cards in March 2023, which has remained to date, forcing Uhuru to pay for his fuel and repairs.
"What the government spokesperson did not clarify is that the vehicles allocated to the former President for personal use were not new, they were part of his motorcade when he left Kasarani during the inauguration ceremony," she added.
"It is the position of the office of the third retired President that the government of the day has not undertaken nor facilitated any repairs, maintenance of any vehicles under this office nor fueled any cars under this office."
According to Dena, the Head of State was entitled to two new vehicles with an engine capacity of 3000cc replaceable every three years. He was also entitled to two others with an engine capacity of between 3000cc and 4000cc.
She also noted that former President Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki had received more cars after retiring, each one doubling that of Uhuru.
Bullying
Dena also decried foul play on her part professionally as State House declined to renew her contract as Director of Communications in Uhuru's office and that of a colleague, without an explanation given.
Further, she claimed that some of the staff were being subjected to intimidation through phone calls that came as late as midnight hours.
"The office still awaits the confirmation and communication on why they refuse to renew the contracts of two professional staff members. The administrator Mr George Kariuki and Mrs Kanze Dena Mararo who is the director of communications," she explained.
"There is also the issue of unceremonious withdrawal and intimidation of staff via phone calls at midnight. We have provided a list of staff serving in the office of the retired President and we would also like to clarify that the list Mr. Mwaura presented in his statement had the wrong tally."
Dena also alleged that Uhuru has been funding his own office and international travels since leaving office as he awaited word from State House. Right after handing over power, Ruto appointed him as peace envoy in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Read the official position of Uhuru's office below:
"On the issue of the office. Before retirement and during his retirement, the former has been sought to undertake various international roles especially within the region in his capacity as a former Head of State and among them was his appointment as a peace facilitator by EAC heads of State during the 22nd ordinary meeting of EAC Summit on July 22, 2022 in Arusha.
"With no response from State House and a lack of commitment to finalise the issue of the office space, the former President identified a suitable office space and went ahead to fully furnish and equip it from his pocket.
"A formal letter was written to State House requesting a valuation of the office that was identified by former President Kenyatta as suitable for him to carry out his duties. However, the office did not receive a response on the issue, and instead, a response the office received was via a text message and in his statement, he indicated the estimates of the property in question.
"To date, this office runs on the President's goodwill as it awaits a response from State House."
