Ex-teachers claim State agencies blocking pension

By KARANJA NJOROGE

Retired teachers have accused offices of the Controller of Budget and Director of Pensions of blocking the payment of their accrued pension running into billions of shillings.

They said that more than 2,000 teachers had died without enjoying the fruits of their labour since they started agitating for their pension after winning a court case against the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). 

At least 400 teachers have died since the beginning of the year. 

The retired teachers some who are ailing visited the offices of their lawyer David Kimatta in Nakuru town on Tuesday to enquire why they had not received the money.

“I am partially blind and I have been visiting various hospitals in Kericho and Bomet counties and all I want to know is where my money is?” Said Mr Alex Kiplangat, 66, from Kericho.

Some of the retired teachers who could barely walk had to be assisted to the advocate’s offices.

Legal procedures

“I completely lost my eyesight in 1995 and have since been seeking treatment at Kikuyu Eye Hospital. I feel I have become a burden to my relatives and I have been wondering where the money is since the Government announced it had already released it,” said Mr Christopher Mwangi Gachanja.

The lawyer accused the offices of the Controller of Budget and Director of Pensions of frustrating the payments even after the courts ordered that the former teachers be paid.

Kimatta said that despite the Treasury setting aside Sh3.4 billion in the financial year 2011/12 and Sh3.65 billion in the following financial year the retirees were yet to receive a penny.   

“It is very sad that these senior citizens have to come to this office to ask for their money. We have not received a single penny from the Government despite going through all the legal procedures,” the lawyer said.  

The retired teachers went to court in 2006 seeking to be paid accrued pension and lump sum salary increment from July 1997 when the Government awarded teachers a hefty salary package, which was staggered in phases.

They won the case after Justice David Maraga then based in Nakuru ruled that they were entitled to their retirement benefits based on the agreement signed on October 11, 1997 between  TSC and Knut.