Kenya Railways Managing Director, Philip Mainga, has been summoned by the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee to explain a two-decade-long delay in paying pension dues to retirees.

The committee, led by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, wants Mainga to clarify the situation surrounding the Sh21.9 million in pension benefits that have remained stuck at the corporation for years, leaving over 270 retirees without their rightful payments.

The issue was raised during the review of the state department’s report for the 2022-2023 financial year.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu had flagged the Sh21.9 million allocated for pension benefits, which has been sitting in a Kenya Railways account at the Central Bank of Kenya without any progress.

The audit report noted that the department failed to provide a list of retirees or beneficiaries, which made it impossible to determine the specific amounts owed to each individual.

Mwale, who is overseeing the matter, expressed his frustration, particularly regarding the years that have passed since 2006, when the payments were first due.

He questioned why the state agency had not taken action and emphasized that the delay may have led to the deaths of some retirees waiting for their dues.

The committee has instructed Transport Principal Secretary Mohamed Daghar to appear alongside Mainga and provide evidence that steps have been taken to start paying the retirees.

“Mr. PS, 2006 is such a long time, don’t you think that some of these people may have gone to heaven. We want you to come with the MD as well as other staff who are aware of this matter,” Mwale said.

Mwale’s demand for evidence of payment progress was met with urgency, as he called for action to be taken immediately.

“Even as you appear here with the MD, please come with some commitments to prove that you have started paying some of them. From 2006, you have not paid them, this is not in order,” Mwale added.

Samburu West MP Lesuuda Naisula spoke out about the psychological toll the delay has caused on the retirees, blaming it for contributing to depression and, in some cases, deaths.

“The inordinate delay has led to numerous cases of depression and deaths among the retirees who have not received their pension payments,” she said.

Aldai MP Marianne Kitany also condemned the situation, calling it inhuman for retirees to suffer in poverty despite their years of dedicated service.

“It is inhuman that retirees are languishing in poverty because they have not been paid their money, yet they worked well,” Kitany said.

She further criticized the response from the PS, describing it as casual and demanding a clear explanation for the delay.