CS Alfred Mutua Announces Major NSSF Changes Starting in 2027

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has announced that the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) plans to begin processing pension claims within 24 hours starting next year, in a move aimed at improving service delivery for Kenyan workers and retirees.

Speaking during the 2026 Labour Day celebrations held in Vihiga County on May 1, Mutua said the government is working on reforms that will significantly reduce the waiting period for pension payments.

Currently, the NSSF says claims are processed within seven days, although investigations by Newshub.co.ke show that many applicants normally wait between 10 and 18 days before receiving their payments.

According to the NSSF service charter, pension and benefit claims are expected to be completed within 10 working days.

However, in some cases, especially depending on the type of benefit being claimed, processing has taken as long as 28 days, leading to complaints from retirees and contributors who depend on the funds immediately after leaving employment.

Mutua said the government wants to completely change the experience retirees face after finishing their years of work. He explained that under the planned system, pensioners will no longer wait for weeks or months before accessing their money.

“From the day you retire, if you submit your documents, within seven days you should receive your first payment. But beginning next year, we want it to take only 24 hours for pension processing,” Mutua stated during his address.

He further noted that in the past many retired workers suffered long delays before receiving their pensions, with some even dying before accessing their benefits.

According to the CS, the reforms are part of wider government efforts to modernize labour and social protection services in Kenya.

Information obtained by Newshub.co.ke indicates that the NSSF has already started upgrading its digital infrastructure to support the faster processing system.

Part of the reforms includes the improvement of online services and the development of a more efficient mobile application that will allow members to submit claims and track payments digitally.

The planned technological upgrades are expected to reduce paperwork, eliminate unnecessary delays, and improve communication between the fund and contributors. Officials believe the digital transformation will also help reduce congestion at NSSF offices across the country.

During the same Labour Day celebrations, Central Organisation of Trade Unions Kenya (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli called for changes in the management structure of the NSSF board.

Atwoli urged the government to increase the number of representatives from both workers and employers sitting on the board. According to him, expanding representation would strengthen accountability and improve decision-making within the fund.

He proposed that workers’ representatives be increased from the current two members to four, while employers should also have four representatives instead of two.

“Allow more workers’ and employers’ representatives to sit on the board. Workers should provide four members instead of two, and employers should also provide four instead of two,” Atwoli said.

He added that increasing representation would help support the NSSF leadership in managing the retirement fund more effectively and ensuring contributors’ interests are protected.

Under the current NSSF Act, the board is chaired by David K Njiru, who was appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Labour. The board also includes the Principal Secretaries from the Ministries of Finance and Labour.

In addition, the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) and COTU-K each nominate two representatives to the board. The structure is further supported by three independent professionals selected based on expertise in areas such as law, actuarial science, finance, and accounting.

The Managing Trustee, currently David Koross, serves as an ex officio member and oversees the daily operations of the fund as the chief executive officer.

Together, the trustees are responsible for safeguarding the retirement savings of millions of Kenyan workers while ensuring transparency, accountability, and proper management of the fund.

The proposed reforms are expected to spark further discussions on how the NSSF can better serve contributors and improve confidence in Kenya’s pension system.

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