The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has clarified that the 17 per cent interest rate currently credited to members’ savings is not fixed and may vary from year to year.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement on Wednesday, September 23, the Fund said the interest rate earned on members’ savings may increase or decrease annually depending on the Fund’s performance.

According to NSSF, the 17 per cent rate currently being earned on members' savings was specifically applicable to the 2024/2025 financial year and was not a guaranteed annual return.

"The 17 per cent is not a fixed annual rate. The interest rate is declared each year based on the Fund’s performance and may therefore increase or decrease from one year to another," the Fund clarified.

📌 What You Need to Know

The clarification came after a Kenyan questioned whether the current interest rate would remain constant every year, seeking to understand whether members would continue earning the same rate on their savings.

In its response, NSSF clarified that it does not pay dividends to members, following a separate request from a Kenyan asking NSSF to consider introducing dividend payments.

"NSSF does not pay dividends. Members’ contributions earn interest, which is declared annually and credited to their accounts, adding to their accumulated savings," it added.

The latest explanation comes as NSSF continues to promote retirement saving, encouraging Kenyans to build their savings through regular contributions and benefit from the returns generated by the Fund’s investments.

Data released by NSSF in February 2026 showed that member contributions increased by 35 per cent in the year to June 2025, reaching Ksh83.97 billion, as the Fund recorded growth in the number of active contributors.

According to the report, the number of active NSSF members rose by 8 per cent to 3.6 million in the same period, up from 3.3 million in the previous financial year.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke