COTU boss Atwoli warns private pension schemes over campaign against NSSF
By Emmanuel Rono, June 10, 2026The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya) COTU (K) has accused players in the private pensions industry of orchestrating a deliberate campaign to undermine the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) amid ongoing debate over the implementation of the NSSF Act, 2013.
In a statement signed by Secretary General Francis Atwoli on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the union said it has observed the campaign is aimed at misleading workers.
“It has come to the attention of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya), COTU (K) that certain players within Kenya’s private pension industry are engaged in a deliberate campaign of misinformation, skulduggery, and fear mongering aimed at misleading workers, undermining the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and frustrating its growth into a strong and competitive national social protection institution,” COTU stated.
Commercial interest over NSSF
COTU (K) argued that the pushback against NSSF reforms is not rooted in worker protection concerns but in commercial interests within the private pension sector.
“These private insurance schemes have become increasingly uncomfortable with the emergence of a stronger, better-performing, and better-regulated NSSF, ” COTU said.
COTU further claimed that some industry actors were attempting to protect long-standing control over workers’ retirement savings, warning that it would not remain silent if the trend continued.
The statement added that NSSF has remained Kenya’s primary social security pillar and the foundation upon which workers’ retirement protection is built.
“We shall not hesitate to expose the anti-worker positions, contradictions, and commercial interests that underpin such efforts,” the statement read.
COTU (K) also criticised guidance issued by the Agricultural Employers Association (AEA), alleging that it directed members to revert to lower contribution levels while still encouraging remittances to private schemes.
“We therefore, wish to caution aggrieved private pension providers and their umbrella organisations, including those operating under the Association of Pension Trustees and Administrators of Kenya (APTAK), against deliberately causing confusion in the pension industry regarding the role of NSSF, the status of the NSSF Act, and the implications of the recent Court of Appeal developments,” COTU stated.