Mombasa, Kenya – National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has urged legislators to give priority to pension funding, warning that a majority of current Members of Parliament may not return after the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the 2026 National Assembly Legislative Retreat, Wetangula cited findings from a pensions and actuarial report indicating that about 56 percent of MPs are unlikely to be re-elected in the next Parliament.
Financial Planning for Life After Parliament
Wetangula cautioned that without proper financial planning, many MPs leave office to significantly reduced incomes, making post-Parliament life difficult. He emphasized the importance of contributing to the parliamentary pension scheme to safeguard financial stability after public service.
“The sessions on Members’ Pensions Facilities Security and Transition Planning reflect our view that public service must be dignified both during and after tenure. We know political attrition is unavoidable, and the consequence is exit from Parliament, which comes with diminished earnings,” Wetangula said.
He added:
“Yesterday, I chaired a committee on pensions and the actuarial report shows that, on average, our attrition rate is 56 percent. As we sit here, at least 56 percent will not return in the next Parliament. We must ensure there is good life after you leave Parliament.”
Pension Amendment Bill
The Speaker pointed to the proposed pension amendment bill sponsored by Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu as a long-term solution. He noted that the bill has undergone extensive review involving the pensions committee, actuarial experts, parliamentary management, and the National Treasury.
“I have discussed this with the Majority Leader, who has handled four pension amendment bills. I have carefully reviewed this one with Makali Mulu, the pensions committee, actuarial advisers, parliamentary management and Treasury representatives. We have refined it and, in my view, it is a good bill for you,” Wetangula remarked.
Reassessing Parliament’s Core Mandate
Beyond pensions, Wetangula reminded MPs of their constitutional role in budget oversight, stressing that Parliament holds the “power of the purse.” He urged legislators to pay close attention to budget estimates and numerical adjustments to ensure spending decisions align with key policy priorities.
Conclusion
Wetangula’s remarks highlight the dual responsibility of legislators: preparing for their own financial futures while safeguarding Kenya’s fiscal discipline. With more than half of MPs projected to exit Parliament after 2027, the push for pension reforms and stronger budget oversight underscores the need for both personal and institutional resilience.
