NSSF board composition wanting, says Atwoli

Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli. He said it was wrong for the government to ignore the fund yet it needed changes to be able to serve Kenyans better. 

In Summary

• Mr Atwoli said three members serving in the NSSF board had run out their terms and should be replaced or their contracts renewed.
• Last Tuesday, President Kenyatta assented to the NSSF Bill that would see workers contribute six per cent of their salaries to the Fund.

By JEREMIAH KIPLANG'AT
More by this Author

The Central Organisation of Trade Union has accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of overlooking the National Social Security Fund saying the composition of NSSF board is wanting.

The workers’ union said it was wrong for the government to ignore the fund yet it needed changes to be able to serve Kenyans better amid controversy over new parastatal appointments by the president.

“The Central Organisation of Trade Unions wishes to fault the government over the recent appointments of various parastatal heads across the country for failing to include the NSSF despite the fund being in dire need of changes,” said Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli.

Mr Atwoli said three members serving in the NSSF board had run out their terms and should be replaced or their contracts renewed.

“The NSSF Board of Trustee leaves a lot of loopholes for corruption to thrive since the board’s composition is wanting as the term of three members expired some six months ago and to-date no efforts have been made to either renew or appoint their replacements,” said the secretary-general.

Although the organisation did not comment on the uproar caused by the appointment of retirees to some plum parastatal positions, it said it was wrong to continue ignoring the role played by Cotu and Federation of Kenya Employers at NSSF

.   

“Indeed were it not for political and other personal interests within a section of government, then the President would have started with making changes at the NSSF as a workers’ fund to ensure that the composition of the Board of Trustees is in line with the law and fully constituted to execute its mandate,” added Mr Atwoli while reacting to the appointment in a statement to newsrooms.

Last Tuesday, President Kenyatta assented to the NSSF Bill that would see workers contribute six per cent of their salaries to the Fund.

Meanwhile, the new chairman of National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation, Dr Julius Kones, welcomed his appointment saying he was ready to ensure all Kenyans get access to clean water.

“I express my gratitude to the President and Deputy President for their confidence in me. I promise to do my best to make water available to as many Kenyans as possible” said Dr Kones on Sunday.

On Friday, Mr Kenyatta appointed 26 new heads of parastatals  through a special gazette notice. The new appointees include the long serving former head of civil service Francis Muthaura and other political retirees who lost in the last General Election or before.