Crisis as hundreds of retirees fail to access their savings

Summary

The Commission on Administrative Justice has demanded that the Director of Pensions resolve 144 outstanding pension claims within 60 days, or risk being declared unfit for office. A recent visit to Beamer House highlighted widespread frustration among retirees, particularly teachers and Kenya Railway staff, who have faced delays of up to 25 years in receiving their pensions. Many have had to make numerous trips, with some even losing loved ones before receiving their benefits. The Ombudsman has pointed to poor service delivery and delays in fund disbursement, urging the Treasury to act and for a better complaints resolution system.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Commission on Administrative Justice has instructed the Director of Pensions to pay all pending 144 pension claims within 60 days.
• 😀 If the Director of Pensions fails to comply, the commission will pursue measures to declare them unfit to hold public office.
• 😀 The Office of the Ombudsman visited Beamer House to assess the pension service delivery, highlighting the frustrations of retirees.
• 😀 Many pensioners, particularly retired teachers and Kenya Railway staff, are experiencing long delays in processing their pension claims.
• 😀 Some pensioners have been waiting for over 20 years to receive their benefits, with frequent issues such as missing documents and application expiration.
• 😀 Retired teacher Moses Amoko has spent the past 20 years chasing his late wife’s pension, facing repeated rejections and expiration of applications.
• 😀 A retiree who hopes to avoid similar delays in the future expresses his frustrations and hopes for quicker pension processing.
• 😀 The Ombudsman’s office has urged the pensions department to resolve the 144 pending claims within 60 days to avoid further administrative action.
• 😀 38 complaints against the pensions department were reported since 2019, with 174 cases resolved and 144 still pending.
• 😀 Some pensioners have been waiting for up to 26 years, with some dying before receiving their rightful benefits, causing additional burden on their families.
• 😀 The Ombudsman’s office criticized the Treasury for delays in disbursing funds and called for devolved services to better address complaints.

Q & A

What issue is being addressed in the script?

The script addresses the delays and frustrations retirees face in receiving their pension claims, with the pensions department failing to process claims in a timely manner.

How long has the delay in processing pensions been affecting retirees?

Some retirees have been waiting for up to 25 years to receive their pensions, while others have been left in limbo for over 26 years.

Who has stepped in to address these pension delays?

The Commission on Administrative Justice, led by the Ombudsman office, has stepped in to address the pension delays and poor service delivery at the pensions department.

What is the current status of the pension claims?

Out of 174 reported pension cases, 38 have been resolved, but 144 claims remain unresolved.

How many pensioners have been waiting for an extended period to receive their benefits?

48 retirees have been waiting for between 16 and 25 years, and 20 others have been waiting for over 26 years.

What is the commission demanding from the pensions department?

The Commission on Administrative Justice has demanded that the pensions department process and pay all pending 144 claims within 60 days, or the director will be declared unfit to hold public office.

What is one of the reasons for the delay in processing pensions?

One of the reasons cited for the delay is the failure of the treasury to disburse funds on time.

How have retirees been affected by the delays?

Retirees have had to make numerous trips to the pensions office, and many are frustrated by the lack of progress. Some even face the tragedy of losing loved ones before receiving the benefits they were entitled to.

What role does the Ombudsman office play in resolving the issue?

The Ombudsman office has made impromptu visits to the pensions department to assess service delivery and has intervened by giving the department a deadline to resolve pending claims.

What does the commission expect to achieve within the next two months?

The commission expects that within the next two months, the pensions department will resolve the pending claims and improve service delivery, preventing further frustration for retirees.