Commission Secures Ksh 2.9 Million Pension Benefits for Retired Ministry of Lands Employee

The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has secured the retirement of a former Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning employee on medical grounds, paving the way for the payment of Ksh 2.9 million in pension benefits after years of delays.

In a statement dated July 21, the Commission said the intervention followed a complaint lodged by the former employee’s sister, who alleged that the officer had been unfairly dismissed from public service despite suffering from a mental illness.

“The Commission has secured the retirement of a former employee of the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning on medical grounds, leading to the payment of Kshs. 2.9 million in pension benefits owed to her,” read part of the statement.

Ombudsman Helps Resolve Long-Standing Pension Case Worth Ksh2.9 Million

According to the Ombudsman, the former Building Surveyor had been receiving treatment at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital and was dismissed after being unable to perform her duties due to her medical condition.

As a result, the complainant asked the Commission to intervene and have her sister retired on medical grounds instead of being dismissed so that she could access the retirement benefits she had earned during her years of service.

She also sought the Commission’s assistance in resolving issues surrounding a house acquired under the Civil Servants Housing Scheme Fund.

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The Commission subsequently engaged the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, who confirmed that the officer had been dismissed from service on June 2, 2010, but appealed in May 2016.

In addition, the Ministry noted that the former employee explained that her ill health had resulted in her admission to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital and attached a medical report indicating that she was fit and stable to resume duty.

The matter was later forwarded to the Public Service Commission (PSC), which directed the Ministry to authenticate the medical report and have the officer assessed by a medical board to determine her fitness for continued service.

Pension Benefits Released After Commission’s Intervention

Ombudsman further stated that after confirmation, the process moved forward, although it experienced delays before the medical assessment could be concluded.

Following the delay, the commission advised the complainant to lodge a formal appeal with the PSC, which rescinded the dismissal decision and approved the officer’s retirement on medical grounds, making her eligible for retirement benefits.

Ombudsman also intervened after delays in processing the former employee’s pension claim and unresolved issues relating to her housing loan under the Civil Servants Housing Scheme Fund by writing to the Ministry requesting action, noting that the delays were preventing the clearance process and the processing of the officer’s pension benefits.

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In one of its follow-up letters, the Commission urged the Ministry to expedite the matter, noting that the former employee urgently required medication and that all the necessary pension documents had already been submitted.

As a result, the Ministry processed and forwarded the required documents to the Pensions Department.

However, the Commission said the file was returned after anomalies were identified, prompting further engagement with the Principal Secretary to ensure the errors were corrected and the documents resubmitted.

The corrected documents were later resubmitted on February 24, 2026, after which the Pensions Department processed and paid Ksh2,939,989.60 in pension benefits, bringing the long-running case to a close.

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A photo showing the statement of the Ombudsman following the win in securing the pension benefits. Photo /Omdusman/ X