MCAs step up push for independent pension scheme

Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) from all the 47 counties are pushing for the establishment of an independent pension scheme.

The County Pension Bill, which  has been stuck in Parliament for some time, recently underwent a second reading. The MCAs want the Bill fasttracked to enable counties move their staff from the current non-contributory arrangement to a contributory pensions administrator.

“We want a pension scheme which is not managed by national government but with an independent administrator so that counties and their employees are able to have a pension scheme,” said forum chairman Johnson Osoi.

Unlike the local authorities before them that had Local Authorities Pension Trust and another defined contribution scheme called Lapfund, which were always plagued by delays in release of workers deductions, the MCAs appear to be pushing for an arrangement that could allow counties to choose their preferred scheme administrators.

The ward representatives have also stepped up calls for the allocation of Ward Development Fund, saying they are the ones who interact  directly with people at the grassroots.

The standoff over a CDF-like kitty for wards took centre stage during the MCAs’ Third Annual Summit at Pride Inn Hotel in Mombasa.

Deputy President William Ruto sidestepped the issue yesterday when he officially opened the event.

At least 2, 300 MCAs who had filled the conference hall to capacity went into a frenzy when a speaker went to the podium and touched on the matter. 

They cheered those who supported the plan and were evidently ready to boo anyone opposed to their agenda.

They demanded that the national government expedites enactment of the Ward Development Equalisation Fund, which they said would help them deliver on their mandate.

They put up a robust push for the kitty, asking the Senate to expedite its enactment because it is necessary in enhancing devolution and improving service delivery.