Kenyan workers are increasingly cashing out their pension savings early due to economic hardship, compromising their long-term financial security. This trend shows early withdrawals are rising significantly faster than formal sector job creation.

• Early pension withdrawals are rising nearly 3 times faster than formal sector job creation.
• The trend is highlighted by new data from the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
• Pension funds, traditionally seen as a reward for a lifetime of formal employment, are now being used for short-term survival rather than long-term retirement security.