The National Treasury has shed light on long-standing delays in releasing pension funds, which have led to frustrations among thousands of retirees seeking their pension benefits.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

While appearing before the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning in the National Assembly on Tuesday, May 19, Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Asset Management Cyrell Odede said the problem is due to missing employment records from public-sector employers, especially the Teachers Service Commission.

According to the PS, pension officers in the ministry have been forced to request old documents from retirees because those documents were never submitted by their employers during the exit process.

"With regard to teachers, the problem has been with the Teacher Service Commission, which fails to attach the required documents," Odede stated.

📌 What You Need to Know

Lawmakers raised concerns following reports that some pension officers were demanding first payslips issued at the time of employment, documents that many retirees could not trace by the time they were retiring.

Many retirees had expressed frustration over the delay in receiving their pension benefits from the ministry, citing that the pension unit required numerous documents before finally releasing the funds.

The ministry denied requesting first payslips, clarifying that the only documents they require are the employer's appointment letter and the last payslip upon exit from service.

"We don't require the first payslip upon appointment, but your first letter of employment and from the employer, and your last payslip upon exit from service," stated an officer from the pension unit.

The PS further revealed that the ministry is rolling out an upgraded Pension Management Information System (PMIS) that will digitise employment and payroll records.

The system, according to the ministry, will allow pension officers to verify service history electronically , hence easing the burden on the retirees.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke