New digital pension platform to streamline payments for retirees

JANE CHEBET AND EVALYNE GITHINJI-PCO

The Government is set to roll out the Online Pension Management Information System (PMIS), marking a significant step towards modernising pension administration and enhancing service delivery for retired civil servants.

The digital transformation, led by the State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management, is expected to eliminate the historical bottlenecks faced by retired civil servants associated with manual pension processing and safeguard taxpayer resources.

Speaking during a high-level briefing at the Treasury Building, Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Assets Management, Cyrell Wagunda, emphasized that the system removes the logistical burden from retirees.

“Eligible pensioners will no longer be required to travel to the Headquarters in Nairobi to register or follow up on payments,” Wagunda said. 

The system will serve as a fiscal watchdog by centralizing data and effectively harmonise the pension register.

The PS noted that the system will also enhance accountability by harmonising pension records and eliminating cases of “ghost pensioners”, ensuring that public funds are paid only to legitimate beneficiaries.

The initiative aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, specifically under the Digital Superhighway Pillar.

It reflects the Fourth Medium Term Plan of leveraging technology to enhance public institutional capacity. national and global goals.

Secretary for Pensions, Michael Kagika, reassured the public that the transition to a synchronized digital platform would end long delays and human error enhancing efficiency and streamlining operations.

With the ability to monitor monthly disbursements from their mobile devices or homes, Kenyan retirees are entering an era of unprecedented financial autonomy.