Senate committee fines Labour CS Oparanya Ksh500,000
The Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare has fined Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya Ksh500,000 for failing to honour a summons to provide information on the widening crisis of unpaid pensions and terminal benefits across multiple sectors.
In a statement on August 20, 2025, the National Assembly revealed that the committee chaired by Senator Julius Murgor (West Pokot) directed that the CS be re-summoned in September 2025.
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“The committee resolved to fine CS Wycliffe Oparanya Ksh500,000 for failing to honour summons to provide information on the matter and directed that he be re-summoned in September,” read the statement in part.
“Citing Article 125 of the Constitution and Sections 18 and 19 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017, senators noted that parliamentary committees wield the same authority as the High Court to enforce attendance.”
This is after the committees’ hearings featured emotional testimonies from petitioners and calls for ‘innovative’ solutions to long-standing disputes in the sectors below.
Former councillors
National Treasury CS John Mbadi revealed that over 12,000 councillors served before the 2010 constitutional reforms, but only 328 qualify for a one-off honorarium promised under a 1994 presidential circular. He stressed that most councillors served part-time without pension entitlements.
“Circular 13/94 only recognises councillors with 20 years of continuous service as eligible,” he said.
In response, Senator Miraj Abdullahi asked whether the Treasury had conducted a forensic inquiry to confirm how many of the 328 councillors were still alive, as recommended by the Attorney General. CS Mbadi, however, maintained that it is the responsibility of individual councillors to lodge their claims with the Pensions Department if they believe they qualify.
Senators Joe Nyutu (Murang’a) and Okongo Mogeni, SC (Nyamira), voiced sympathy, urging creative and compassionate approaches. Nyutu suggested seeking presidential intervention akin to support given to sports icons, such as the Harambee Stars.
Mbadi countered that only a legal framework could unlock payments. He also highlighted what he termed a “criminal” practice, first by local authorities and now by counties, of deducting pension contributions from employees’ salaries without remitting them to the relevant schemes. As of October 2024, he reported, such unremitted deductions had accumulated to Ksh103.3 billion.
Kenya Railways pensioners
The Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefit Scheme (KRSRBs) also came under sharp scrutiny, with over 8,000 retirees demanding arrears they estimate at KSh 1.6 billion, though management places the figure at Ksh574 million. Despite assets worth KSh 38.46 billion, nearly 90 per cent are tied up in property, leaving the scheme cash-poor.
Senator Seki Lenku (Kajiado) recommended that the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) facilitate reconciliation of the differing sums between management and petitioners. He also urged the RBA to conduct a forensic review of KRSRB, with a report to be tabled within two months.
Former KCC workers
The plight of ex-Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) workers was also discussed. Having waited more than two decades for benefits following the 1999 receivership, they pressed their case through lawyer Simoni Namada. CS Mbadi, however, argued that a Court of Appeal ruling absolves the government of legal obligation.
The committee also interrogated two statements: one by Sen Richard Onyonka (Kisii) on pension delays affecting retired KEMRI staff and another by Sen Ledama Olekina (Narok) on non-remittance of death and disability benefits under the Public Service Superannuation Scheme Act, 2012.
