Kenya Government through the Pension office has embarked on a national exercise to clean the retirees’ payroll of ghost beneficiaries.
The exercise to be conducted between February11 to May 3 2019 will see retirees trooping to Huduma Centres Countrywide to go through physical head count by having their documents, which include Identity card, ATM card among others verified.
“This exercise seeks to weed out ghost retirees and dependants still earning from the kitty years after the death of the principal contributors,” explained Director of Pensions Mr. Shem Nyakutu.
Speaking to the Press in Migori after briefing Huduma Center Manager Mr. Evans Wendott and Suna East Deputy County Commissioner Mr. Dennis Mutiso, the director noted that the move will help trigger efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery at the multi-billion public department in the government.
The department also seeks to put strong checks and balances in how money from the kitty is spent, adding that it would address cases of delay in release of lump sum and gratuity payments to the beneficiaries.
The kitty that serves civil servants, the Disciplined Forces, Parliamentarians, Deputy President and President among others will this financial year dispense a total of Sh83 billion up from the previous Sh63 billion paid in 2017/2018 financial year.
“And we expect this to rise to over Sh100 billion during the 2019/2020 financial year,” added Mr. Nyakutu.
He said the government has put in place a broad programme to sensitize the masses countrywide on issues related to the operation of the kitty.
By George Agimba
