GOVERNORS yesterday said they will not allow the national government to manage county staff pension schemes.
Council of Governors chairman Peter Munya said they will go to court if the Senate passes the County Retirement Scheme Bill 2014 without CoG’s input.
He spoke at a forum involving the Senate, national and county governments.
It was held at the Boma Hotel in Nairobi.
Munya said governors were surprised Senate Majority Leader Kindiki Kithure has re-introduced the Bill, which he withdrew in June.
“It is unacceptable to create a pension scheme managed by the national government. The two levels of governments are distinct and separate and we will not allow the scheme to be managed by a different employer other than the counties,” he said.
Kindiki withdrew the Bill on June 2 “to allow for wider consultations with all the stakeholders”.
“After consultations with key stakeholders, it has been decided that I withdraw the Bill to allow the drafting of a fresh, all-inclusive Bill,” Kindiki said in the letter dated May 28.
Munya hinted that governors will demand the NHIF and NSSF boards have a representative of the county chiefs.
CoG will push to restructure the Local Authority Pension Trust into a county pension scheme, he said.
Munya said the law stipulates county staff shall belong to an already-existing scheme.
Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro told governors the Senate won’t pass the Bill without consensus.
He said Senate will always defend the interests of the counties.
