The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has defended the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) against bribery allegations raised by Members of Parliament, challenging the lawmakers to provide evidence to support their claims.
In a statement, COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the union had not received complaints from contributing members or its 47 affiliated trade unions concerning the alleged denial of benefits to retirees.
The allegations emerged during a parliamentary session on October 14, when Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah accused NSSF officers of demanding bribes from retired civil servants seeking to access their benefits.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli. Photo: Courtesy.
He called on the Fund’s management to take responsibility for the alleged misconduct.
COTU, which holds two seats on the NSSF Board of Trustees, urged the lawmakers to identify affected contributors, present evidence and initiate formal accountability procedures instead of making generalised accusations.
The union also defended the Fund’s financial performance, revealing that its portfolio had grown from approximately Ksh312 billion to Ksh814 billion over the past three years.
Atwoli noted that the growth placed NSSF on course to become a trillion-shilling fund and demonstrated progress in managing workers’ retirement savings.
COTU maintained that the Fund’s achievements deserved recognition even as Parliament continued exercising its oversight mandate.
The union further cautioned NSSF management and the Board of Trustees against intimidation, blackmail and political interference, particularly as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election.
