Get your pension savings when you leave a job, retire or buy a house
Retirement Benefits Authority · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Apply to your pension scheme's trustees or administrator. When you leave a job you can choose part payment, a transfer to another scheme or to keep (defer) your savings; at retirement you should be paid within 30 days of applying. You can also use part of your benefits to get a mortgage or buy a house.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- How long
- Within 30 days of applying, at retirement
- Where
- Your pension scheme's trustees or administrator (ask your employer's HR or your pension provider)
Steps
- Get your latest benefits statement and the scheme rules from your trustees or administrator, so you know what you have built up.
- Leaving a job: tell the trustees whether you want part payment, a transfer to another scheme, or to defer (keep) your benefits. Payment follows your scheme's rules.
- To move your savings to another registered scheme, give written notice; the transfer should happen within 60 days.
- At retirement, apply to the trustees and tell them which bank account to pay into. You should be paid within 30 days of applying.
- Buying a house: ask your trustees about using part of your benefits to secure a mortgage or buy a residential house.
Watch out
- You can't withdraw from your employer's scheme while you still work for that employer.
- There's a limit on the cash lump sum at retirement: up to one third in a contributory scheme and up to a quarter in a non-contributory one (any extra voluntary contributions can be taken in full).
- If the trustees delay or refuse, complain to them in writing first, then to RBA.
Who can apply
- Members of private and employer retirement benefits schemes regulated by RBA. Not the Civil Service (government) pension scheme.
Official sources (3)
- Members Rights rba.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Membership Benefits rba.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Complaints and Procedures rba.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026