Director of Pensions jailed over retired teachers pay

The High Court sitting in Nakuru has handed the Director of Pensions, Shem Nyakutu, a one-month jail term for failing to comply with a court order.

Judge Janet Mulwa, in her ruling, said that Nyakutu has deliberately failed to disburse 1.5 billion shillings for the retired teachers despite the National Treasury making the money available.

Over 52,000 teachers who retired between August 1997 and September 1998 had filed a certificate of urgency to have Nyakutu and Teachers Service Commission CEO, Nancy Macharia, sentenced to a six months jail term for failing to remit the money into the accounts of the complainants.

Nyakutu defended himself saying that he had already complied with the court orders to remit the money to the claimants and asked for more time to conclude the process.

The Director of Pensions had been ordered to pay the money before February 28, 2017 and furnish all parties in the case with the list of beneficiaries.