NAIROBI, Kenya – With the February 28 deadline fast approaching, pensioners and their beneficiaries have been urged to complete their registration with the National Treasury’s Pensions Department.
The exercise, which began in December, is a key step in modernizing Kenya’s pension administration.
The Pensions Department has introduced a Pensioner Self-Registration Portal on e-Citizen, a move aimed at streamlining access to retirement benefits while reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies.
According to Director of Pensions Alfred Kagika, this digital shift aligns Kenya with global best practices in pension management.
“Many countries are leveraging digital solutions such as self-registration, biometric verification, and integrated pension management systems to improve service delivery. Kenya is proud to be at the forefront of this digital transformation,” Kagika said.
The new e-Pensions Management Information System (e-PMIS) will allow pensioners to update their records remotely, eliminating the need for physical visits and long queues.
It is expected to enhance security and accuracy by incorporating biometric verification, ensuring timely processing and disbursement of benefits.
Kagika emphasized that beyond updating pensioner records, the initiative will facilitate the transition to a fully automated pension administration system.
The integration of e-PMIS with other government databases will help curb fraud and eliminate ghost pensioners.
“Data integrity is a well-recognized risk in pension administration globally. The government is proactively addressing this challenge by implementing cutting-edge technology, including biometric verification and proof of life, to ensure pension payments go to legitimate recipients only,” he noted.
As of January 31, the system had registered 353,586 pensioners, including 268,236 principal pensioners and 85,350 dependents.
The department administers defined benefit schemes for various categories of public servants, ensuring timely processing of retirement benefits through legally established financial procedures.
Addressing concerns over pension delays, Kagika refuted claims that disbursements are always slow, stating that once a complete and accurate claim is lodged, processing should ideally be completed within 90 days.
He, however, acknowledged that delays often result from late submission of claims by employers or missing documentation from retirees.
To mitigate this, the Pensions Department is actively engaging employers to ensure timely and complete submission of pension claims before an officer’s retirement date.
Kagika also defended the government’s 2009 decision to raise the retirement age from 55 to 60 years, explaining that the move was informed by socio-economic and actuarial considerations.
The extension helped retain experienced personnel longer, easing immediate pension liabilities and aligning Kenya with global retirement trends, including those of East African Community partner states.
With just weeks left before the deadline, pensioners who have not yet registered are urged to do so via the e-Citizen platform to avoid disruptions in accessing their benefits.
