A fresh political storm is brewing over the management of workers’ retirement savings, as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua levels serious accusations against the government prompting a sharp rebuttal from the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU).
While addressing a crowd in Mazeras on Saturday, June 7, Gachagua unleashed a barrage of claims, accusing top government officials of diverting National Social Security Fund (NSSF) money away from its intended purpose. According to Gachagua, funds meant to secure the future of Kenyan workers are instead being used to finance major infrastructure projects and suspicious investment deals.
One of the most controversial claims involved the alleged 99-year lease of Bomas of Kenya to a foreign investor an Indian national which Gachagua linked to broader mismanagement within the fund.
He further alleged that the construction of the Mau Summit–Rironi highway, a massive project expected to span the next two years, is being funded using NSSF contributions without public consent and in violation of regulations.
“The money that belongs to workers has been redirected without proper procedure,” Gachagua stated in Kiswahili, adding, “Hiyo pesa Kasongo ametoa kinyume na sheria.” He did not mince words, claiming that President William Ruto is personally benefiting from the fund’s alleged misuse.
But COTU wasn’t having it. In a swift and firm response, the country’s largest workers’ union dismissed Gachagua’s remarks as misleading and irresponsible. The organization defended NSSF, asserting that the fund operates within strict legal frameworks and that all investments are made in line with established procedures to safeguard contributors’ savings.
COTU officials criticized Gachagua for what they termed “political posturing” that could unnecessarily alarm workers and undermine confidence in a key national institution.
“This is not the time to play politics with workers’ retirement security,” a COTU representative said. “Making unverified claims in public only serves to cause panic among contributors who trust NSSF to manage their future.”
As tensions simmer between political factions and watchdog bodies, the spotlight is now firmly on NSSF’s governance and transparency. While Gachagua’s allegations have struck a nerve, they’ve also raised wider questions: how much oversight exists in managing public retirement funds and what safeguards are in place to prevent abuse?
With infrastructure projects like the Mau Summit–Rironi road set to reshape Kenya’s transport landscape, the debate over how such ventures are funded and at what cost is unlikely to fade any time soon.
