By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Long-suffering Kenya Railways pensioners could soon receive their long-delayed payments after a team appointed to reconcile the accounts presented its report to the Senate, which has been pursuing the matter on their behalf. The joint report was submitted to the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on Thursday, 13th November, by Kenya Railways Managing Director Philip Mainga, who disclosed that arrears amounting to KSh 2.387 billion had accrued to both active and deferred pensioners as of 31st October 2025.
The report was prepared by a tripartite task force comprising the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), the Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme (KRSRBS), and the petitioners. “The scheme intends to clear the outstanding arrears from the KSh 2.264 billion expected from the acquisition of the Nairobi Railway Club by KeNHA,” Mainga told the committee, urging the National Treasury to expedite the disbursement.
During the session chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu questioned how the difference between what is owed and what Treasury is expected to release would be bridged, a concern echoed by Nominated Senator Miraj Abdullahi, who also sought assurances that such crises would not recur.
In response, Mainga outlined a long-term stabilisation plan beginning in February next year, noting that the scheme was liquidating underutilised assets, including property at Makongeni valued at roughly KSh 8 billion, with the intention of investing the proceeds in government bonds and other income-generating instruments.
He added that the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the former Ministry of Devolution still owed the scheme millions of shillings from earlier land transactions in Muthurwa.
Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku urged the committee to summon National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi or to secure a written commitment on when the KSh 2.264 billion would be released. “When that money comes, it must go directly to the pensioners. We do not want to hear that it has been diverted to another activity,” he said.
Lead petitioner Rodgers Washika reminded the committee of the human toll of the delayed disbursements. “We are dealing with vulnerable pensioners, the oldest is 90 years old, and the average age is 75. Some are in hospital, others struggling with the cost of medicine. We need Treasury to release those funds,” he pleaded.
Murgor assured pensioners that the committee would not relent until every shilling reached the rightful beneficiaries, and he thanked the tripartite team for charting a roadmap to restore dignity to Kenya’s ageing railway workers.
