NAIROBI, Kenya, April 24 – The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has directed the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to publish financial statements and annual reports in accordance with the law.
In a letter sent to the NSSF CEO, Office of the Ombudsman Access to Information Commissioner Dorothy Jemator gave the NSSF 21 days to respond to the request.
The directive followed a complaint raised by an anonymous individual protesting NSSF’s failure to publish and update audited financial statements on its website.
Following the complaint, the office conducted its own investigations that found that NSSF had not published financial statements, contravening Article 35(1)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right of access to information held by the state.
Further, Article 35(3) requires the state to publish and publicize important information affecting the nation.
“This is therefore, to request you to respond to this letter within 21 days thereof indicating the corrective measures put in place by your Office to proactively disclose and regularly update the National Social Security Fund Annual Report and audited financial statements in order facilitate access to information to citizens hence upholding of Constitutional guarantees and statutory provisions.”
