Senate Committee Summons Three Cabinet Secretaries and Kenya Railways MD Over Pension Concerns
The Senate Labour Committee has officially summoned three Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and the Managing Director of Kenya Railways Corporation after they failed to attend a meeting that was scheduled for Monday, August 4, 2025.
The meeting was meant to address several national issues, including the long-overdue pensions of retired Kenya Railways Corporation employees.
In a statement released on Monday morning, the committee directed CS for National Treasury John Mbadi, CS for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya, CS for Labour Alfred Mutua, and Kenya Railways Corporation Managing Director Philip Mainga to appear before them on Wednesday, August 20, at 10 a.m. The session is set to take place at the County Hall Mini Chamber.
According to the statement, “The Senate Labour Committee has officially summoned the following leaders after they were unable to attend today’s scheduled meeting, Monday, 4th August 2025.
They are kindly requested to appear before the Committee on Wednesday, 20th August 2025. Your cooperation is appreciated as we work together to address key national matters.”
The committee expects them to give detailed explanations on a range of important issues. These include the one-time honorarium for former councillors, the prolonged delay in pensions for Kenya Railways retirees, and matters raised in the Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) petition.
This development follows shortly after the committee expressed frustration with CS Mbadi for repeatedly failing to show up for previous sessions aimed at resolving pension concerns affecting former Kenya Railways workers.
Last week, the committee had issued a stern warning to Treasury CS Mbadi, cautioning him against missing the meeting scheduled for Monday, August 4. The committee made it clear that skipping another session would lead to serious consequences.
During that sitting, the committee chair, Senator Julius Murgor of West Pokot, voiced his disappointment over Mbadi’s absence. Instead of attending personally, CS Mbadi had sent the Principal Secretary for Public Investments, Cyrell Wagunda Odede, to represent him—a move that did not sit well with the Senators.
Senator Murgor remarked, “It’s now clear to us that this matter will continue to drag on because decisions are being delayed at the Cabinet level. Every delay makes it look like we are not doing our job.”
Kitui Senator Enock Wambua also weighed in on the issue, highlighting the importance of accountability.
He pointed out that CS Mbadi, having previously served as a Member of Parliament, should know that appearing before Parliament is not optional. “He understands better than anyone that appearing before Parliament is not a favour—it’s a duty,” said Senator Wambua.
In response to the continued absence, the committee dismissed PS Odede from the session and made it clear that only the CS himself would be accepted in the upcoming meeting. They emphasized that failure to appear again would no longer be tolerated.
The Senate Labour Committee is now preparing to receive the summoned officials on August 20 and expects full cooperation in order to address these urgent matters that have affected many Kenyans for far too long.
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