The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has submitted 201 pension claims to the National Treasury for processing and payment, marking yet another attempt to ease the pension backlog for retired educators in Kenya. This submission, dated 5th September 2025, represents a crucial milestone for teachers who have been waiting—some for months, others for decades—for their retirement benefits.
While this is a positive step forward, a deeper look into the claims reveals shocking delays that expose systemic inefficiencies. For some teachers, the pension journey has taken more than 15 years before reaching Treasury.
This update comes shortly after other pension submissions were made in previous months. For instance, in July 2025, TSC published 224 pension claims sent to Treasury, while in August 2025, another 187 pension claims were pushed forward. This steady trend of batch submissions indicates that TSC is under pressure to clear the pileup of cases that have lingered for years (read more about the July list here and the August list here).
A Glimpse into the Data
The 201 pension claims include 104 female and 97 male teachers who exited service due to retirement, resignation, or other reasons. All claims were officially “passed” to Treasury on 5th September 2025, but the exit dates show striking disparities.
| Teacher Name | TSC Number | Date of Exit | Date Passed to Treasury | Delay (Approx) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samwel Kiprotich Murgor | 190894 | 1st Jan 2009 | 5th Sep 2025 | 16 years 8 months |
| Annah Kavindu Kitheka | 309347 | 30th Aug 2007 | 5th Sep 2025 | ~18 years |
| Grace Akinyi Agalo | 256032 | 25th Mar 2010 | 5th Sep 2025 | ~15 years |
| Avunga Osoro Meshach | 535911 | 4th Sep 2016 | 5th Sep 2025 | ~9 years |
These cases highlight not just administrative delay, but a broader systemic backlog that has trapped teachers in financial uncertainty for years after they leave service.
A Multi-Tiered Backlog
The 201 claims in this batch can be segmented into four main categories:
| Category | Waiting Period | Number of Teachers | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Backlog | 10+ years | 4 teachers | Represents the deepest inefficiencies in pension processing |
| Long-Term Wait | 5–10 years | 9 teachers | Indicates systemic issues yet to be resolved |
| Systemic Delay | 2–5 years | 21 teachers | Affects teachers who left between 2020–2022 |
| Recent, Yet Delayed | Under 2 years | 167 teachers | Majority, exited in 2024–2025, showing the process is still slow |
While it is encouraging that the majority of claims are more recent, the fact that some teachers waited over a decade paints a worrying picture of a system struggling to cope.
This trend is consistent with earlier reports. For instance, in this July article, we highlighted how many retirees still don’t know if their claims have even reached Treasury. Similarly, in March 2025, a staggering 273 claims were submitted, yet some teachers were left wondering why their names were missing.
What the “Batch Push” Reveals
The reliance on batch submissions—sending hundreds of claims at once—reveals that TSC and Treasury still depend on a cyclical, manual system instead of an automated pipeline.
This raises several red flags:
- Lack of Continuity: Retirees must wait for the next “batch,” regardless of when their paperwork was completed.
- Processing Bottlenecks: Hundreds of files pile up, slowing down Treasury’s verification and payment systems.
- Stress on Retirees: Teachers exit service but face 6–18 months—or even decades—before accessing benefits.
The data also shows a clustering of exit dates on 1st July and 1st January, the two common retirement cutoff dates. This further overloads the system, which struggles to clear surges in pension claims twice a year.
Why Delays Persist
Several reasons have been cited for pension delays:
- Incomplete Records – Many cases date back to periods when teacher records were still kept manually. Missing files or unverified service periods cause enormous delays.
- Coordination Gaps – Communication between TSC, Treasury, and banks is often slow. Retirees are rarely updated on claim progress.
- High Workload – With thousands of teachers retiring annually, both institutions struggle to keep up.
- Lack of Digitization – Manual verification is time-consuming and error-prone. A modern automated system would drastically reduce waiting times.
A Step Forward, But a Long Road Ahead
Submitting 201 claims is undeniably progress. For these teachers, it means they are now one step closer to receiving their pensions. However, this list is only a small piece of the puzzle.
Consider the case of a teacher like Annah Kavindu Kitheka, who exited in 2007. Waiting 18 years for a pension is not just a financial injustice but a violation of dignity for someone who dedicated their life to education. Such cases highlight why reforms must go beyond incremental “batch pushes.”
The situation mirrors the experience of another retiree recently profiled, who exited in 1995 but only had her pension processed in 2025 (read her story here). These are not isolated incidents—they expose long-term structural challenges.
The Way Forward: What Needs to Change
Education stakeholders and unions such as KNUT and KUPPET have repeatedly urged TSC and Treasury to modernize the pension system. Based on this batch, three priorities stand out:
- Digital Transformation: Pension processing must move to a real-time online system, similar to the TSC online teacher transfer portal, where status updates are accessible (explore how TSC digitized transfers here).
- Targeted Intervention for Old Cases: A dedicated taskforce should handle the extreme backlog of claims older than 10 years.
- Transparency: Retirees should be able to track claims without relying on informal networks or waiting for public lists.
Conclusion
The submission of 201 pension claims to Treasury in September 2025 is a relief for those affected but also a reminder of the slow progress in pension reform. For many retired teachers, their years of service deserve faster recognition and timely payment.
The road ahead requires structural change, not just administrative patchwork. Until then, every new “batch push” will bring hope for some, but frustration for thousands still left waiting.
