Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

A committee has been formed to look into the affairs of military veterans and oversee the establishment of their dependant’s education fund.

The committee aims to ensure a smooth transition of soldiers who are not dishonourably discharged from military service.

The Military Veterans Advisory Committee was yesterday inaugurated as part of the efforts to operationalise the Military Veterans Act 2022.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla presided over the event at the Defence headquarters.

Ogolla (pictured) said the launch marks the operationalisation of the law which intends to help personnel. He said prolonged wars and stay of the personnel in combat zones exposes them to many dangers including stress which affects their families.

“The prolonged operations have led to various social challenges among the personnel including post-traumatic stress disorders, family wrangles, absenteeism and drug and substance abuse,” he said.

He said the challenges are dragged into retirement and as a result, they end up in poor living conditions.

The initiative also seeks to restore the capability of military veterans with disabilities to the greatest extent possible.

President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Act on June 15, 2022. It establishes a regulatory and institutional framework for the management of military veterans’ affairs.

The Act also provides for the benefits to military veterans and their dependants including the establishment of the Dependants’ Education Fund by the Defence Council.

The government has in the past been criticised for failing to cater to the needs of former soldiers. The Fund will provide scholarships for the education of the children of deceased military veterans.