Government to Forcefully Send Home ‘Old’ Civil Servants

Retirement in Kenya has been twisted to fit the agenda on several occasions irrespective of who the decision tramples on.

2018 has so far had its share on the twists and turns of retirement which is mostly about the age limit to retire at or whether to have even had age limits.

According to Cabinet Administrative Secretary, Rachael Shebesh, the Ministry of Public Service is working to have civil servants about to reach retirement age replaced with the youths. The civil servants, apparently, will have no option but go for early retirement as failure to do so could see them get sacked.

This is the Government’s ‘genius’ idea to create employment for the overly promised youths who never get the deal delivered.

“It will be painful but we might have to let some people go,” said the former Nairobi women representative. Shebesh further revealed that all ministries were under the Executive’s instructions to employ more youths.

Rachael further revealed that the ministry would introduce a system that allowed more youths to be employed and work in shifts like the system piloting at City Square Huduma Centre and GPO Huduma Centre.

Shebesh added that the ministry was seeking to implement renewable contract terms to reduce cases of civil servants working into their old age before retirement saying that lack of laws to protect the youth’s interests.

This, however, contradicts the Government as the President continues to nominate obviously aged candidates who have already retired to diplomatic and parastatal positions citing experience.

The Government, barely, five months ago, removed age and term limits for State Corporation Chief Executive Officers through a circular issued by the Head of Public Service, Joseph Kinyua.

The circular, dated 27th February 2018, was titled ‘Terms of Service for State Corporation’s Chief Executive Officers’.

CEO’s can now be re-appointed countless times as the appointing authority wishes. They can also work beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60.

This hence calls for the question, is retirement age set out by the constitution and if yes is the constitution discriminatory unto the people it should be guiding?