Members of Parliament have raised concern over the delayed payment of retirement benefits to thousands of retired public servants, summoning Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) for answers.
During a heated session of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, chaired by Kitui Rural MP David Mboni, lawmakers questioned why the RBA and the National Treasury had failed to ensure timely remittance of pension funds.
Mboni lamented that many retirees were languishing in poverty despite contributing diligently to pension schemes throughout their service. “We share the same pain as legislators of people whose pension payouts are stuck. What this Committee needs to know is, if these former employees contributed towards their pension and the agencies made their part of the contribution, where is the money?” he posed.
Karachuonyo MP Andrew Adipo faulted the RBA for taking the issue lightly, saying it was unjust for retirees to wait years for their benefits. “Someone retires after years of service, only to be told there is no money. This is not a matter to be taken casually,” Adipo said.
Butula MP Joseph Oyula called for better management and transparency, insisting that retirees should be given clear breakdowns of their benefits before leaving service.
The matter was further highlighted by Chonga MP, who revealed delays in payments under the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation (NWCPC) Staff Superannuation Scheme.
In response, RBA CEO Charles Machira admitted that NWCPC failed to remit pension contributions on time, leading to an actuarial deficit that breached statutory funding levels.
Committee Chair Mboni directed CS Mbadi to appear again on October 23, 2025, with a comprehensive report detailing deductions, employer contributions, and reasons for the prolonged delays in disbursement.
