Determinants of Employee Participation in Retirement Benefit Schemes: A case of Nampak Kenya Limited

The study aimed at identifying the determinants of participation in retirement benefit schemes. The consequence of low participation is evident from the low level of benefits paid to employees who retired from the company. The study targeted current employees who are members of the company’s retirement benefit scheme. Out of a target population of 139 employees, a representative sample of 70 employees was targeted and the study used primary data which was collected through use of a questionnaire. The data was processed and analyzed to derive descriptive and inferential statistics that would be used to draw conclusions of the study. The study found out that knowledge and awareness, attitude and saving plan practices affect employee participation in retirement benefit schemes in varying levels. Knowledge and awareness was found to have a positive but insignificant relationship with participation. Attitude and saving plan practices were found to have a positive and significant relationship with participation. The study recommended that knowledge and awareness creation should be sustained but the training should go beyond the basic features of the scheme to include information on investment and wealth creation opportunities and financial security prospects inherent in pension scheme funds. It was recommended that training in personal finance management be prioritized to provide financial literacy and influence positive attitudes towards increased savings in the retirement benefits scheme as well as other personal saving plans. The study also recommended that to increase financial participation, the company can consider the option of increasing the mandatory contribution rates for members. This can be done through a legal process involving a revision of the legal instruments governing the scheme