NSSF reveals plan to double membership

 

As a Vision 2030 project, Konza Tech City is considered a strategic opportunity for Kenya to spur the growth of economic activities that fuel higher value employment generation and growth. The city provides a great opportunity to leverage Kenya into the knowledge economy

By Standard Reporter

Nairobi, KENYA: The National Social Security Fund ( NSSF), has embarked on a promotion to raise awareness on its services and mandate as it seeks to double its membership roll. The campaign will educate existing and potential members on the funds products and membership options through the recently launched web based online registration platform geared at driving the funds membership to 2.8 million up from the current 1.4 million levels this financial year.

NSSF Managing Trustee Tom Odongo said the initiative is part of the ongoing corporate transformation programmes aimed at clearing misconceptions on the funds statutory mandate.

He pointed out that the fund had undertaken a series of strategic organisational development programmes to enable it efficiently handle a higher membership complement.

Automating functions

Odongo also said the firm is in the process of automating its administrative functions to be in line with global standards, as the firm seeks to transform itself into a customer-focused organisation,

NSSF has already unveiled a web based online member registration portal to provide a self-service recruitment option for both the informal and formal sector members. It has also activated an M-Pesa function that allows for convenient account top ups for existing members through their mobile phones.

“As an organisation, NSSF has covered very good ground in our corporate efforts to transform this organisation to a customer focused institution, providing value to its members,” Odongo explained.

The corporate awareness campaign will also facilitate efforts to convert the current NSSF from a provident fund into a public mandatory social security scheme. The conversion, Odongo pointed out will be undertaken through the NSSF Bill 2012; set for parliamentary presentation and debate this year.

Increase coverage

If successfully passed through the pending parliamentary process, the Bill will facilitate the statutory repealing and replacement of the existing National Social Security Fund Act (Cap. 258 of the Laws of Kenya). The proposed NSSF Bill will provide enhanced social security products to existing members while increasing social security coverage through comprehensive benefits to all workers in line with the new Constitution and Vision 2030 ideals.