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The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has defended the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) following allegations that some officials demand bribes from retirees seeking their pension benefits.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli has challenged Members of Parliament who raised the allegations to provide evidence, identify the affected retirees and pursue the appropriate accountability procedures.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 19, 2026, Atwoli said COTU had not received complaints from its contributing members or any of its 47 affiliated trade unions concerning alleged bribery or denial of benefits at the fund.
His remarks came amid growing parliamentary scrutiny of NSSF over concerns about the processing of retirement benefits and the treatment of pensioners.
Kimani Ichung’wah Raises Bribery Allegations Against NSSF
The controversy followed remarks by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah during parliamentary proceedings on the Public Service Superannuation Scheme (Amendment) Bill.
Ichung’wah accused some NSSF officials of allegedly demanding money from retirees before processing their pension benefits.
The Kikuyu MP argued that the fund's management should take responsibility for addressing the reported misconduct and ensuring retirees receive their savings without unnecessary difficulties.
He also raised concerns about delays in processing claims and the challenges facing retirees from remote counties who may have to travel long distances to access services.
The allegations have placed NSSF's service delivery and management under renewed public scrutiny.
Atwoli Demands Evidence From MPs
Responding to the claims, Atwoli said politicians should provide specific evidence rather than make general accusations against the fund.
He called on lawmakers to identify the affected contributors and initiate the appropriate procedures to ensure accountability where wrongdoing has occurred.
COTU maintained that allegations of bribery should be investigated through established channels to establish the facts and protect the interests of workers.
The union also cautioned that unsupported accusations could damage public confidence in an institution responsible for managing workers' retirement savings.
However, the absence of complaints received by COTU does not, by itself, establish whether the alleged incidents occurred.
COTU Reveals NSSF's Financial Growth
While defending the fund, Atwoli highlighted what he described as improvements in NSSF's financial performance over the past three years.
According to COTU, the fund's investment portfolio has grown from approximately KSh312 billion to KSh814 billion, bringing it closer to the KSh1 trillion mark.
The union also cited investment returns of approximately 11 per cent in the 2023/2024 financial year and 17 per cent in 2024/2025.
Atwoli further pointed to two consecutive clean audit opinions from the Office of the Auditor-General as evidence of progress in financial reporting and accountability.
These figures were presented by COTU as part of its defence of the fund's management and performance.
NSSF Says It Has 64 Branches Across Kenya
COTU also disputed claims that retirees must travel to Nairobi to access their pension benefits.
According to Atwoli, NSSF operates 64 branches across the country where members can seek assistance, make inquiries and access services.
The union further stated that the average processing period for retirement benefits had reportedly fallen from approximately 87 days to seven days.
Atwoli said COTU was engaging the fund's management in efforts to reduce the processing period further, with the goal of bringing it down to one day.
The concerns raised by MPs have renewed attention on how pension claims are handled and whether retirees can access their benefits conveniently.
Atwoli Warns Against Political Interference
The COTU secretary general also urged NSSF management and its Board of Trustees to resist intimidation, blackmail and political interference, particularly as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election.
He maintained that Parliament has a responsibility to oversee public institutions but argued that such oversight should be based on evidence and established accountability procedures.
The disagreement comes as lawmakers continue examining proposed changes to the administration of the public service pension system.
The outcome of the debate could influence discussions about pension administration, service delivery and the protection of retirement savings for Kenyan workers.