"We cannot pay NSSF", say prison warders

Prison warders are resisting a move to have them join the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) claiming they are measly paid. On May 30, some NSSF staff were forced to cut short their trip at Industrial Area Prison where uncooperative warders declined to give them audience. The NSSF officials had gone for the abortive registration mission.

The warders refused to register claiming apart from poor pay that cannot be subjected to further deductions, they had never been members of the pension fund.

The new Kenyan National Social Security Fund Act 2013, which becomes effective from July 1 has replaced the National Social Security Fund Act.

Under the new arrangement, an employer will contribute 6 per cent of the employee’s monthly pensionable earnings. The same percentage will be deducted from the employee.

Junior warders claimed they were servicing loans and therefore being made to join NSSF would lead to serious financial strains.

“For example, I have a loan at the Magereza Sacco where I am also servicing an emergency loan. At the end of the month, the net pay on my slip is about 6,000 shillings.If they deduct it further, what will I be left with to feed my family,” lamented a constable.

NSSF maintained that all people in formal employment will have to adhere to the new regulation. Catherine Ouma, NSSF’s public relations and marketing manager said members of the disciplined or armed forces will have to contribute.

“Every Kenyan worker must register. All employers including the government must register. Before, the prisons or those in uniform were exempted under Cap 258, which has essentially been replaced by the new Act,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the top brass of the prisons department held a three-day retreat in Naivasha to brainstorm on the way-forward, amid a biting shortage of resources. The meeting starting from June 3 and headed by all directorate heads was chaired by Commissioner of Prisons Isaiah Osugo.

The Nairobian reported that the prisons department is cash-strapped and operations were almost grinding to a halt with Nairobi Area Command and Prison HQs being the hardest hit stations where work is occasionally disrupted due to lack of fuel, electricity and stationery.

Photo:journalism.indiana.edu