MPs have held an engagement forum with National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Managing Trustee David Koros to deliberate on areas of improvement and management of the fund.
The meeting convened by the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Social Protection also brought on board the National Treasury, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) and Federation for Kenyan Employers (FKE).
During his opening remarks, Koros called on members of the committee to support NSSF in achieving the intended objectives assuring them of a strong corporate governance framework at the Fund.
"NSSF is all-inclusive; it's a tripartite arrangement that brings together the Government, workers and employers as key determinants of decisions. Chair, we have moved away from the legacy issues that have been bedevilling NSSF. Through set structures today we have a USSD code and contributions can be made online in an easy way including those from the informal sector,” said Koros.
He told MPs that NSSF currently has 3.5 million members and added that they have plans to bring on board more people from the informal sector.
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita however challenged the fund’s submissions on governance.
He sought to know why the management had allowed some of their staff to be in acting positions for long instead of promoting them to substantive positions.
“This should be one of the indicators of good governance,” he observed.
Koros attributed the problem to a series of court cases lodged between 2013 and 2023 and the delay by the Public Service Commission to approve the human resource instruments among other requirements of employment.
Committee Chairperson Alice Ng'ang'a promised to reach out to the Public Service Commission to address the matter.
“This Committee needs to know where the issues are. We are here to understand, even if it's internal wrangles or the Public Service Commission please open up so that we can help you," she added.
Seme MP James Nyikal insisted on the need by NSSF management to foster public trust to encourage more Kenyans to join the public scheme.
In a separate sitting after the meeting with NSSF, the Committee met members of the National Council for Persons Living with Disabilities (NCPWD) led by the Chief Executive Officer Harun Hassan.
Accompanied by Government Spokesperson and former Senator Isaac Mwaura who is a member of the Council, they highlighted some challenges that they are currently facing.
They highlighted such issues as budget deficits, budget cuts, late release of the council's funds by the National Treasury to difficulties in absorption among others.
They called on the Committee to facilitate the allocation of more funding towards the implementation of their priority programmes.
The Council will be appearing before the Committee on Tuesday to further engage the committee on these issues.