Meru: The Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) has partnered with Huduma Centre to conduct a five-day outreach programme aimed at educating the public on retirement schemes. Speaking during the opening ceremony at Meru Huduma Centre grounds, RBA’s Market Conduct, Industry, and Development Director, Tom Kiptanui, emphasized the institution’s commitment to informing Kenyans about saving for their future.

According to Kenya News Agency, Kiptanui expressed RBA’s readiness to collaborate closely with Huduma Centres to address public concerns about joining and managing retirement schemes. He highlighted RBA’s responsibility to ensure the security of over Sh2.3 trillion saved by Kenyans and to guarantee the timely disbursement of retirement funds within 30 days, regardless of the retirement timing.

Kiptanui underscored the importance of the outreach in addressing issues faced by scheme members and expressed a desire for RBA’s permanent presence in Huduma Centres nationwide. He encouraged the public to seize the opportunity to resolve their concerns, especially for those not yet enrolled in pension schemes.

Kiptanui acknowledged challenges in remittances, particularly within quasi-government institutions like universities and local authorities. He assured that RBA is engaging trustees and employers to implement interventions for timely fund remittances. Additionally, RBA is exploring legal amendments to facilitate fund recovery from defaulting employers, with proposals submitted to The National Treasury, including collaboration with the Kenya Revenue Authority.

Kiptanui highlighted the outreach’s role in raising awareness about grievance platforms for retirees and urged individuals to contact RBA for support in ensuring timely benefit payments. Meanwhile, Huduma Centre Secretariat CEO, Ben Kai Chilumo, noted the presence of 58 centres across the country, each offering convenient access to government services, including pension plans registered with RBA.

Chilumo emphasized the ‘huduma mashinani’ programme’s goal of educating Kenyans on future savings and assured retirees that they can process their retirement benefits at any Huduma Centre without traveling to Nairobi.