diff --git a/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-server-deployment.yaml b/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-server-deployment.yaml
index a0a2b61f..045c5626 100644
--- a/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-server-deployment.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-server-deployment.yaml
@@ -40,11 +40,6 @@ spec:
             cpu: 500m
             memory: 250Mi
         env:
-        - name: APP_PASSWORD_PEPPER
-          valueFrom:
-            secretKeyRef:
-              name: cic-ussd-secret
-              key: app_password_pepper
         - name: DATABASE_USER
           valueFrom:
             configMapKeyRef:
@@ -85,8 +80,6 @@ spec:
           value: /tmp/src/keys/
         - name: PGP_EXPORTS_DIR
           value: /tmp/src/keys/
-        - name: APP_PASSWORD_PEPPER
-          value: "QYbzKff6NhiQzY3ygl2BkiKOpER8RE/Upqs/5aZWW+I="
         ports:
         - containerPort: 9500
           name: server
diff --git a/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-tasker-deployment.yaml b/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-tasker-deployment.yaml
index 5d8a3a12..f4719801 100644
--- a/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-tasker-deployment.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-tasker-deployment.yaml
@@ -105,11 +105,9 @@ spec:
         - name: PGP_PRIVATE_KEYS
           value: privatekey.asc
         - name: PGP_PASSPHRASE
-          value: queenmarlena # TODO move to secret
+          value: queenmarlena 
         - name: CIC_META_URL
           value: http://cic-meta-server:80
-        - name: APP_PASSWORD_PEPPER
-          value: "QYbzKff6NhiQzY3ygl2BkiKOpER8RE/Upqs/5aZWW+I="
         volumeMounts:
         - mountPath: /tmp/src/keys
           name: pgp
diff --git a/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-ussd-server-deployment.yaml b/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-ussd-server-deployment.yaml
index 0e8798c2..847ce867 100644
--- a/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-ussd-server-deployment.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/cic-ussd/cic-user-ussd-server-deployment.yaml
@@ -110,8 +110,6 @@ spec:
           value: privatekey.asc
         - name: PGP_PASSPHRASE
           value: queenmarlena # TODO move to secret
-        - name: APP_PASSWORD_PEPPER
-          value: "QYbzKff6NhiQzY3ygl2BkiKOpER8RE/Upqs/5aZWW+I="
         volumeMounts:
         - mountPath: /tmp/src/keys
           name: pgp