New Motion seeks to Reduce Retirement Age from 60 to 50

A new proposal that will see the retirement age limit reduced from 60 years to 50 years is currently underway.

Starehe Member of parliament Charles Njagua is pushing a motion in Parliament that will seek to send more than 25,000 civil servants packing and help increase youth employment in the country.

“Concerned about the high rate of unemployment in Kenya, this House urges the government to review the mandatory retirement age in the public service from the current 60 to 50 years to, among other things, create opportunities for the employment of the youth,” reads Njagua’s Motion.

Njagua’s motion has been postponed twice for discussion despite being listed in parliament, but the legislator believes that his colleagues will fully support his idea.

Thousands of graduates are being churned of several universities every year but end up jobless for a couple of years a situation that Njagua’s motion seeks to resolve.

“Economic hardship coupled with a lack of opportunities to meaningfully participate in the society puts youth at risk of long-term social exclusion. This compromises countries’ social cohesion and can lead to political instability,” Njagua argues in a bid to support his motion.

According to Mr. Njagua, youth employment is a time bomb that is likely to explode and disintegrate Kenya’s economy if it is not dealt with as early as possible.

“Youth unemployment is a leading cause for the rise in HIV/Aids, alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, crime, and vigilante activities. It is, therefore, necessary that youth agendas be given priority as a means of national development,” Njagua added.

Out of an estimated number of 800,000 graduates who are churned out of various tertiary institutions, approximately 70,000 of them are absorbed into the Job markets, leaving out a very large number.

Njagua’s new motion is likely to trigger strong retaliation as it would affect more than 70,000 civil servants in both the national and county levels.