President William Ruto slammed old NSSF rates in a passionate address at State House on Monday, labeling the long-standing contribution of just 200 shillings a month as outright “ujinga” – foolishness – that has left Kenya lagging behind neighbors like Tanzania in building wealth through smart savings.
Speaking to a packed room during the United Democratic Alliance’s National Governing Council meeting, Ruto didn’t hold back, using vivid examples to drive home why Kenyans need to rethink how they handle retirement funds.
It was one of those moments where the room went quiet, then buzzed with murmurs. Ruto painted a stark picture: “Imagine, Tanzania, a smaller economy, wako na pesa mingi mpaka wanakuja kununua shamba hapa Upper Hill, wanajenga nyumba ya ghorofa. They are investing na sisi tumelala.”
In plain English, he’s saying Tanzania’s social security fund has so much cash they’re snapping up prime land in Nairobi’s Upper Hill and erecting skyscrapers, while we’ve been dozing off, sticking to that paltry 200-shilling cap on NSSF deductions. He hammered it in – that’s not progress; that’s shortsightedness keeping us from competing on the big stage.
This isn’t new territory for Ruto. Since taking office, he’s pushed hard for reforms in social security, arguing that low contributions have starved the National Social Security Fund of the muscle needed to invest boldly. Remember, up until a couple of years ago, formal sector workers were chipping in a flat 200 bob each, matched by employers.
It sounded fair back then, but Ruto says it was a recipe for stagnation. Now, with the rates hiked – top earners pay up to 6,480 shillings monthly – the fund’s ballooned from 312 billion in 2023 to over 670 billion today. He’s projecting a trillion by June 2027 if things keep rolling.
But why bring in Tanzania? It’s a clever jab. Their Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF) has been making waves here, pouring money into that towering project in Upper Hill. Reports say it’s creating thousands of jobs – 3,300 at last count, with shifts running day and night.
Ruto’s point: Our neighbors are using their pension pots to build empires abroad, while we’ve been content with peanuts. “Bado tunalipa shilingi 200. Hiyo inaitwa ujinga,” he quipped, drawing chuckles mixed with uneasy shifts in seats. It’s classic Ruto – blunt, folksy, and aimed straight at the hustler crowd he champions.
Critics were quick to fire back, of course. Opposition folks like those in Azimio say this is just Ruto spinning his tax-heavy agenda. “He’s lecturing us on savings while prices for everything from maize flour to fuel are through the roof,” one Nairobi resident told me on the street this afternoon.
And let’s not forget the Auditor-General’s red flags last year – NSSF got slammed for risky deals and irregular spending. Mismanagement? Absolutely, say watchdogs. But Ruto’s camp argues the new contributions are cleaning house, with better oversight and investments in infrastructure and housing.
The NGC itself was a whirlwind. Held bright and early on this January 26 morning, it pulled in governors, MPs, and party faithful to map out 2026 strategies. Ruto used the platform to tout wins like economic rebound after the 2025 floods and cracking down on graft.
There was talk of unity too, especially after Gathoni Wamuchomba’s return to the fold – she’s been accused of playing both sides, but showed up smiling. Ichungwah, the Majority Leader, chimed in about sneaking through those 2024 Finance Bill bits last year without the protests. Smooth sailing, he called it.
For everyday Kenyans, though, Ruto’s words hit close to home. In a country where many scrape by on informal gigs, bumping up NSSF feels like another bite out of thin wallets.
Yet supporters say it’s future-proofing – more money in the fund means bigger pensions, better loans for homes or businesses. Think about it: Tanzania’s fund isn’t just sitting on cash; it’s creating jobs right here in Kenya. If we “tumelala” as Ruto puts it, we’re missing out on that kind of growth.
Social media’s exploding with reactions. Some memes show Ruto as a strict teacher scolding a class, others praise him for the wake-up call. One tweet from a Mombasa trader: “200 bob was nothing, but now my payslip hurts. Still, better than retiring broke.” Another from Kiambu: “Tanzania investing here? That’s embarrassing. Time to hustle harder.”
Ruto wrapped his speech with optimism, saying these changes could turn NSSF into a trillion-shilling powerhouse by next year. Will the fund avoid past pitfalls like shady deals? Can ordinary folks afford the hikes amid high living costs? And is calling old habits “ujinga” the best way to rally support?
As Kenya pushes toward 2027 elections, this debate’s just heating up. Ruto’s betting that bold talk on savings will win votes from a generation tired of poverty cycles. Whether it lands as motivation or a lecture, one thing’s clear: The days of 200-shilling complacency are over.
