Retired teacher and former KNUT official awaits pension decade later

Retired teacher Willis Okendo. He has faulted Knut for failing to pay his allowances.[PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

BY DOMNICK MITIRO

NAIROBI, KENYA: He has been a member of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) for more than three decades but has nothing to show for it in his old age.

Willis Okendo, 68, of Madiang’ division, Siaya County, retired 10 years ago but is yet to receive his pension.

He served in an official capacity as the Knut treasurer of Madiang’ sub-branch from 1994 to1998. Mr Okendo joined the Teachers’ Service Commission in January 1974 and taught in Rageng’ni Primary School from where he retired.

He first wrote to the then Knut National Secretary General Lawrence Majali on August 30, 2004, claiming his share of the allowances. A letter dated November 22, 2004, was then sent to Okendo’s branch office directing the officers to confirm his membership.

The late Crispin Adede, the branch secretary general at the time, confirmed that Okendo was indeed a member of Knut and was, therefore, qualified to receive the allowances.

Okendo was redirected to the head office from where he was told the matter would be discussed in the National Executive Council (Nec) and that he would be informed of the outcome.

He has been waiting for close to a decade now to receive what he terms rightfully his.

“Seasons come and go but the morning chill remains the same. This is what I braved each morning in a patriotic attempt to build the nation and drive away ignorance. I did my part well, worked tirelessly and paid my contribution to the union but I have nothing to show for it. Ten years and still counting, I have not received my old age allowances,” said Okendo in an interview with The Standard.

PREVIOUS CLAIMS

In his last letter dated January 20, 2014, directed to the Knut head office, Okendo reminded the national office of his previous claims to his share of pension, but this too, seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

He is yet to receive any response. Sub-article 4(f) of Article 12 of the Knut constitution provides for allowances to members or their dependents on account of death, old age, sickness, accidents, or unemployment as Nec may from time to time prescribe.

Knut Kisumu branch Executive Secretary Joshua Ogallo said that old age allowances, also known as pensions, are paid to members through Saccos in co-ordination with the branch offices.

“If the member was duly registered with a Sacco, then he is surely entitled to allowances among other benefits,” said Mr Ogallo.

Speaking to The Standard via telephone, Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion said the payments are handled at the branches.

“Members liaise with the branch offices that co-ordinate the payments with specific Saccos from where they can enjoy various socio-economic benefits,” said Mr Sossion.

He added that the national office does not offer any payments as claimed but may indulge in the event of any complaints.

“We only engage the branch offices when there are complaints of failure to serve members,” said Sossion.

FAVOURABLE RULINGS

“There was a computation problem about pension of those who retired between 1998 and 2006 as their pensions were computed in their last salaries,” said Sossion.

He revealed that there have been cases at the Director of Public Prosecutions of individual teachers who retired about the same period and that most of the individuals often received favourable rulings.

“I am aware that there is a retired teacher who for 10 years now has not received his/her pension but I also know that there have been several cases at the DPP’s office and that most of them have often received favourable outcomes,” said Sossion.