Kenya's Senate committee is requesting more time for a multi-agency task force investigating over KSh 80 billion in county pension debts. The move follows a meeting in Malindi where progress was reviewed amid discrepancies in reported figures. Lawmakers aim to ensure a comprehensive report before final recommendations.
The Senate Select Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) met in Malindi on November 29, 2025, to assess the Multi-Agency Taskforce on pension arrears. Established by the National Treasury, the task force addresses mounting debts exceeding KSh 80 billion owed by county governments to staff pension schemes, largely due to accumulated penalties and interest.
Formed after revelations of significant inconsistencies—for instance, pension schemes reported over Sh82 billion in unremitted amounts in 2023, while the Council of Governors estimated around Sh40 billion—the task force was gazetted in November 2024 with an initial 90-day mandate to submit its report to the Senate. Its duties include reconciling principal amounts, accrued interest, and penalties in line with the laws governing each scheme, and developing a payment formula and strategy.
Committee Chairperson and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi emphasized the need for thoroughness. "I will be seeking an extension from the House so that you can firm up the report and try to reach out to Nairobi and Mombasa counties, which are yet to meet the Taskforce," Osotsi stated.
Nairobi and Mombasa are the largest defaulters, with obligations inherited from defunct local authorities and worsened after devolution. The Senate's CPISFC initiated the task force due to pensioners facing poverty from non-remittances. Lawmakers now push for a viable framework agreeable to the National Treasury, Council of Governors, and pension schemes, aiming to secure the financial future of retired county workers.