President William Ruto has urged that governors and members of county assemblies (MCAs) be included in pension schemes.
Speaking at the ODM–UDA Joint Broad-Based Parliamentary Group meeting on March 10, Ruto said it is only fair for elected leaders at the county level to enjoy the same benefits as those in the national administration.
“”On devolution again. We realized that just as we have the national administration, members of county assemblies have no pension. We all agree here in this assembly that it is only fair that governors and MCAs, as elected leaders, should have pensions,” Ruto said.
“We all agree on a system of contribution. Just as we contribute, I don’t think they will have any issues with contributing.”
Ruto said the move will be one of the ways to enhance, support, and better integrate devolution into the governance system.
This is not the first time President Ruto has called for pensions for governors and MCAs.
Ruto Announces Plan for Pensions for Governors and MCAs
In January, the President announced plans to fast-track the introduction of a contributory pension scheme for county leaders, including governors, MCAs, and county assembly speakers.
He added that the move aims to safeguard the dignity and welfare of leaders after they leave public service.
The President noted that many leaders, despite serving their communities faithfully, often face financial difficulties soon after leaving office.
Ruto said implementing such a system would help maintain continuity, provide stability, and preserve the dignity of public servants who have spent years in leadership positions.
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He said that offering pensions would help former leaders maintain their dignity and avoid becoming a financial burden to themselves or the communities they once served.
Ruto noted that the UDA National Governing Council directed both the Executive and the Legislature to fast-track the creation of the pension scheme, while stressing that, as it involves public funds, it must be implemented with careful planning.
Council of Governors Push for Pension
In 2021, the Council of Governors drafted a bill proposing a pension scheme for senior county government officials.
The legislation was prepared by the County Assemblies Forum in consultation with the former Attorney General Kihara Kariuki.
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The bill proposed extending pension benefits to governors, deputy governors, speakers of county assemblies, and MCAs, bringing them on par with their counterparts in the National Assembly and Senate.
Additionally, it authorizes county governments to be remitting money for the pension scheme to a fund.
According to the bill, MCAs would become eligible for a pension after serving two consecutive terms. MCAs welcomed the move, saying that the setting up of the pension scheme was long overdue.
They added that efforts should be made to fast-track the bill once it is tabled in the assemblies.
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