Members of Parliament have given the National Treasury a two-week deadline to fix problems in the Electronic Pensions Management Information System (E-PMIS), which has remained non-functional despite being procured and tested.
The system, meant to improve pension management, has caused serious frustration among retirees who depend on it for their livelihoods.
The Special Funds Accounts Committee, led by Rahim Dawood, issued the directive to Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo after he finally appeared before them following months of ignoring summons from Parliament.
His repeated absences had previously angered lawmakers who accused him of undermining parliamentary authority.The committee’s action comes amid growing concern that the government’s failure to reconcile missing balances in the new pension system has left many elderly citizens in distress.
Many retirees have gone for months without receiving their benefits, despite dedicating decades of service to the country. The lawmakers said it was unacceptable that such a system, which was meant to simplify processes, has ended up making things worse for those who deserve efficiency and respect.
The E-PMIS was introduced in December last year as part of the government’s plan to modernize pension management and move to a paperless system. The Pensions Department had promised that the system would bring transparency and faster processing of benefits by aligning Kenya’s pension system with global best practices.
However, according to recent audits, several gaps exist in its functionality, making it unreliable for real-time reconciliation of pension records and balances.
The committee instructed the Treasury to sort out the system’s problems within 14 days and provide a detailed report. Lawmakers emphasized that the Treasury must account for all missing balances and ensure that retirees receive their payments without further delay.
They warned that continued failure could force Parliament to take tougher disciplinary measures against responsible officials. The MPs also insisted that once the system becomes fully operational, payments should be automated to avoid bureaucratic hold-ups that have repeatedly delayed pension disbursements.
During the same session, the committee raised alarm over a Ksh1 billion fund under the Treasury that has remained dormant for over a decade. The fund has neither a board nor a manager, raising questions about accountability and the oversight of public money. MPs said it was troubling that such a large sum was left idle while the country struggles with pressing economic needs such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
They described it as a clear example of poor financial governance and demanded that the Treasury provide a full explanation of how such funds could exist without supervision or direction.
The committee concluded by urging the Treasury to prioritize efficiency, transparency, and accountability in all its operations, warning that Parliament will not hesitate to act if reforms in the pensions system and other financial areas continue to stall.
The legislators stressed that Kenyans, especially retirees, deserve better service and that public resources must always be managed responsibly to reflect the government’s commitment to integrity and good governance.
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