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Those who have attained 60 years are expected to leave workstations immediately

Anxiety and confusion have gripped the public service following Friday’s directive by President William Ruto that civil servants who have attained the mandatory retirement age leave office with immediate effect.

Similar confusion has also gripped parastatals as employees ponder their fate following Ruto’s directive that 47 State corporations will be dissolved as part of the government’s efforts to reduce the wage bill.

 Sources in government revealed that the worst hit were public servants who attained the age of 60 years and were issued with letters extending their tenure of services as they remained unsure whether to leave the office or stay put.

 The National Treasury last year revealed that a total of 30,155 workers were expected to proceed on retirement by the end of June after attaining the age of 60.

Another 28,745 public servants were to also retire next year after attaining the retirement age while 26,500 public servants are to retire in 2026.

The sources disclosed that although the new directive was to take effect immediately, those affected are still in office awaiting “further communication”.

Most of the officers retained by the government are in the ranks of Regional Commissioners, Directors, Secretaries and Principal Administrative Secretaries among others.

Withdrawal of Finance Bill

 Ruto who was announcing measures the government was taking to cut costs following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 that slashed the Budget by Sh346 billion, said there will be no extension of tenures of public servants who have attained the age of 60 and above.

 He said: “Henceforth, public servants who attain the retirement age of 60 years shall be required to immediately proceed on retirement, with no extensions to their tenure of service.”

He added: “47 State Corporations with overlapping and duplicative functions will be dissolved, resulting in the elimination of their operational and maintenance costs, and their functions will be integrated into the respective line ministries. Staff currently employed by the affected corporations will be transferred to ministries and other state agencies.”

 Among the notable faces who have attained the age of sixty years and are currently serving in the public service include the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei who turned 60 on June 6, a day after Ruto made the announcement. Also affected is Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Kamau Thugge who is 64 years old having been born in 1960.

Mandatory age

In the same league are Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohammed Amin and Deputy Inspector General in charge of the Kenya Police Service (KPS) Douglas Kanja both of who attained 60 years but were given an additional two-year contract that was to end in April.

 The extension of the tenure of the officers was however met with opposition with the then Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Gender Aisha Jumwa directing that services of all officers who have attained mandatory retirement age be terminated with immediate effect.

 In a letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson Antony Muchiri dated February 23, Jumwa expressed concern over the rise in the number of officers requesting for extension of their contracts upon attaining the mandatory retirement age.

She said: “However, it has come to the attention of the Ministry responsible for Public Service that Public Officers who have attained the mandatory age as provided under the Public Service Commission Act are making numerous appeals to the Commission for unjustified extension.”

 She added; “The purpose of this letter is that all extension review cases be suspended and any existing cases be revoked to enable proper legislations and succession management guidelines to be implemented across the Public Service.”

 Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria who succeeded Jumwa in October last year also maintained that no public servant will be allowed to continue serving on contract after attaining retirement age.

 Said Kuria when he visited NYS headquarters in Ruaraka, Nairobi: “When a public servant attains the age of 60, please go home. When some turn 58, they claim to have some disabilities so more time can be added to them. No Way! I have caught up with them.” Among those state corporations targeted for merger include those that have similar roles. This is in order to enhance synergy and effectiveness and ensure efficient use of public resources.

Parastatal mergers

 The National Treasury and Economic Council (NTEC) has already held consultative meetings with various Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and management of the various corporations to come up with ways of executing the mergers of some of the institutions.

 Among the corporations that are likely to be affected include the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) which has been proposed to take over Kenya National Shipping Line.

As a result, the government is expected to partner with the private sector to establish a logistics company to undertake the business of cargo shipment, clearing and forwarding and last mile destination.

 Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) will be merged with the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) to create an enabling environment for both local and global investors through the promotion of processing and special zones.

 Departments under the Attorney General’s office such as the Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC) and National Council for Law Reporting (NCLR) will be merged into one to establish one entity to coordinate matters relating to Law such as reviews and reforms and publication of Kenya Law Reports.

 The others are Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) which is expected to be merged with the Commission for University Education to establish one regulator to ensure quality of education and qualifications, Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) and Sports Kenya (SK) to establish one entity for the development and promotion of sports.

 Uwezo Fund, Youth Enterprise Development Fund and Women Enterprise Fund to be collapsed in to one to establish one well-resourced Fund that will offer affordable credit to targeted MSME groups such as Youth, Women and PWDs (Affirmative Action); the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) and Kenya Copyrights Board which will be merged to establish an entity to register and patent intellectual and industrial property and copyrights to enhance synergy.

Tourism destination

 There is also a recommendation that a well–resourced entity be established to promote and market Kenya as an investment and or tourism destination including Kenya’s products for exports to replace the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPBA), Kenya Investment Authority (KIA), Kenya Tourism Board, Tourism Research Institute (TRI) and the Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board (KYBEB).

 The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Commodities Fund (CF) will be merged to establish one well-resourced Fund to enhance access to affordable credit for farmers as well as enhance food production and food security;

 The Kenya Cultural Centre and Bomas of Kenya under the Department of Culture and Arts will be merged into one autonomy in a bid to solely promote Kenya’s heritage and cultural diversity, the National Heroes Council and President’s Award-Kenya State Corporations will be jointly involved in identifying distinguished persons who have made a significant contribution for honouring awards.

 In the case of Kenya Water Institute and Regional Center on Ground Water Resources, Education and Training and Research will be jointly responsible for conducting training and research on water resources management while there is also a proposal to have the Kenya Forestry Service (KFS) take over the mandate of Kenya Water Tower Agency (KWTA).