This archive report was first published on 28 August 2021.
Published on August 28, 2021, a contentious issue has emerged in Kenya's devolved units, with county workers opposing the national government's bid to take over management of their pensions.
The workers, represented by the County Government Workers Union, claim that the national government's move is illegal and ignores their views. According to the union's secretary general, Matilda Kimetto, the national government has pushed through the County Government Retirement Scheme Bill, 2019, which gives it powers over county pensions.
Ms. Kimetto stated, 'It is manifest under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, Part II, paragraph 14 that the function of national government on matters pension is limited to prescribing general standards and regulations on social security and professional pension schemes, a function which is discharged through the Retirement Benefits Authority.'
The union further claimed that the national government's move is part of a larger attempt to muzzle the devolved units. County governors have also reacted sharply to the move, seeing it as an attempt to undermine their authority.
On July 26, the State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC) secretary, Wanjiku Wakogi, wrote to LapTrust chief executive, Hosea Kili, seeking critical information relating to the pension fund and its subsidiaries.
The county workers are standing firm in their opposition to the national government's bid to take over their pensions, with Ms. Kimetto stating, 'On this one, we stand firmly with our employers in stating that the pension arrangement for county workers is a county government's affair.'
