MPs vow to amend National Social Security Fund Bill

By Alphonce Shiundu

Nairobi, Kenya: MPs have concluded debate on the National Social Security Fund Bill, 2013, vowing to amend it to deny the Labour Cabinet Secretary the power to determine who will sit in the NSSF Board.

The Wednesday morning vote to conclude the debate came just a day after MPs insisted that the powers of the Cabinet Secretary in running the fund ought to be clipped in order to shield it from the corruption.

The MPs also called for workers’ unions and the employers’ federation to be involved in deciding the team that handles money for thousands of the country’s pensioners.

Tom Kajwang (Ruaraka) said it was “irresponsible” for the Government to have total say on the membership of the NSSF board.

“Unions must be involved… If you have a situation where Cabinet Secretaries appoint at will, how else does the Government expect employers and employees to be represented,” said Kajwang’.

Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) said the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) should not always be taken as the only voice of workers in the country.

But George Muchai (Kabete) and Millie Mabona (Mbita) backed the Bill and noted that Cotu was the most representative organisation of workers in the country.

David Ochieng’ (Ugenya) added that the provision for Sh10,000 in funeral grants for contributors was too little, and that, it would be paid too late after the death of the contributor.

“Why do you want to pay within 60 days? The Muslims bury within a day. If you say that the money needs to be paid within 60 days, that’s a very long time,” said Ochieng’.