The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has challenged Members of Parliament to provide evidence to support claims that National Social Security Fund (NSSF) officials are demanding bribes from retirees seeking their benefits.
COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the union had not received complaints from contributing members or any of its 47 affiliated trade unions over the alleged bribery and denial of benefits.
The response follows claims raised in Parliament on October 14, when National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah accused NSSF officials of demanding bribes from retired civil servants to speed up the processing of their benefits.
Ichung’wah called on the fund’s management to take responsibility, arguing that the alleged misconduct could not be addressed without examining the leadership of the institution.
He urged NSSF management to take action over the claims, saying officials should be held accountable if staff were demanding money from retirees.
In a statement, COTU said MPs making the allegations should identify the affected contributors and provide evidence to allow the matter to be investigated.
The union said general accusations without specific cases or supporting evidence could undermine the institution without helping resolve the concerns raised by retirees.
COTU, which has two representatives on the NSSF Board of Trustees, maintained that it had not received reports from its members about the alleged demands for bribes.
The union also defended the fund’s financial performance, pointing to growth in its investment portfolio over the past three years.
According to Atwoli, NSSF’s portfolio has grown from approximately KSh312 billion to KSh814 billion, putting the institution on course to reach the KSh1 trillion mark.
He said the growth reflected progress in the management of workers’ retirement savings and should be considered alongside Parliament’s oversight role.
However, COTU warned the NSSF management and Board of Trustees against intimidation, blackmail and political interference as the country approaches the 2027 General Election.
The dispute comes amid concerns raised in Parliament over how retirees access their savings, with the allegations placing renewed attention on the handling of benefits by the social security fund.
COTU maintained that any claims of bribery should be supported by evidence and addressed through the appropriate accountability procedures.