RBA Conducts Public Participation Forum at TENP on Proposed Retirement Benefits Reforms

The Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) on Friday, March 13, 2026, held a public participation forum at The Eldoret National Polytechnic (TENP) as part of ongoing nationwide consultations on proposed legislative reforms aimed at strengthening Kenya’s retirement benefits sector and ensuring workers enjoy a dignified life after retirement.

The forum brought together education stakeholders, staff members, and administrators who engaged with RBA officials on key proposals intended to improve retirement savings frameworks, enhance governance of pension schemes, and expand access to retirement benefits for workers across the country.

The RBA delegation was led by Chief Executive Officer Charles Machira, who was accompanied by other senior staff from the authority. Their visit to the institution formed part of a broader effort by the regulator to gather views from stakeholders before the proposed legislative reforms are finalized and submitted for further consideration.

Upon arrival at the institution, the team was received by the Chief Principal Dr. Charles Koech, who was joined by the college’s Deputy Principals and members of the management team. The college leadership welcomed the delegation and commended the authority for involving stakeholders in discussions that will shape the future of retirement benefits in the country.

During the forum, RBA officials highlighted the importance of public participation in policy development, noting that the proposed reforms seek to address emerging challenges in the retirement benefits sector while strengthening protections for workers’ savings.

They explained that the reforms are designed to improve the sustainability and efficiency of pension schemes, promote transparency and accountability in the management of retirement funds, and increase coverage so that more workers can benefit from structured retirement savings.

According to the officials, the authority is keen on ensuring that workers in both the public and private sectors are adequately prepared for life after employment. They emphasized that retirement planning is a critical aspect of financial security and urged employees to actively participate in retirement savings programmes.

The engagement also provided an opportunity for participants to ask questions, raise concerns, and share recommendations on how the proposed legislation can better serve employees and pension scheme members.

Staff members at the institution welcomed the forum, noting that it helped them gain a deeper understanding of retirement benefits and the importance of long-term financial planning. Some participants also shared their perspectives on how pension schemes can be improved to better meet the needs of workers.

In his remarks, Dr. Koech thanked the RBA leadership for choosing the institution as one of the venues for the consultation process, stating that such engagements are essential in empowering workers with knowledge about retirement planning and ensuring their voices are heard in policy formulation.

He further encouraged staff members and other stakeholders to take an active interest in retirement matters and contribute ideas that will help strengthen the country’s retirement benefits framework.

The public participation exercise is part of a wider initiative by the Retirement Benefits Authority to consult stakeholders across different sectors before finalizing the proposed reforms. The authority hopes the consultations will help shape legislation that safeguards workers’ savings and enhances the overall efficiency of Kenya’s pension system.

Once implemented, the proposed reforms are expected to play a significant role in improving retirement preparedness and ensuring that Kenyan workers are able to enjoy financial stability and a decent standard of living after leaving active employment.