Retirees were greatly relieved after the government reduced the pension waiting period to 90 days.
Speaking on Thursday, February 9, in Malindi, during a workshop for public servants, Principal Pension Officer Douglas Asanyo announced that the retiring public servants would receive their pension within three months from their retirement date.
The Pensions Department under the Treasury and Planning Ministry resolved to fast-track the processing of pensions after a public outcry.
Asanyo also refuted allegations that cartels had taken over the process, arguing that aggrieved pensioners were victims of fraud games.
“The head of the public service has issued a circular that members of the public service are issued with a notice of retirement a year before their exit and put their records in order so that pension processing can begin immediately,” he announced.
He further acknowledged delays in processing pensions under the old scheme and blamed retirees.
Anita Kitole, an officer under Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSSS), emphasized that the plan was to ensure retirees receive their payment at the right time without experiencing delays.
“Reforms have been made to ensure that they receive retirement payments at the right time,’ she noted.
The PSSS board of trustees, with representatives from the Union of Kenya Civil Servants, Kenya Union of Teachers and Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers, currently administers the new scheme.
Treasury deployed its officers at the Teachers Service Commission to help process pensions for teachers and police officers while testing its new system.
On December 15, 2022, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa agitated for retired civil servants to receive their pension within three months of applying.
Barasa’s proposal sought to reduce delays and cushion the retirees during their post-service life.
“The principle object of the Bill is to amend the Pensions Act, Cap. 189 to provide a timeline within which pension shall be payable to an officer,” the Bill stated.
