Crisis as 50,000 Govt Officials Retire

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File image of Kenyans walking in a street in Nairobi
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The government is staring at a looming crisis occasioned by the mass exit of civil servants from the public service.

According to documents from the Public Service Commission (PSC) about 50,000 civil servants have retired in the last three years up to December 2020. 

Some 16,000 employees retired in 2018, with a similar number exiting the following year. In 2020, the figure rose to 17,000. 

Public Service Commission chairman Stephen Kirogo at Pride Inn Paradise Resort in Shanzu, Mombasa County, on May 22, 2019.
Public Service Commission chairman Stephen Kirogo at Pride Inn Paradise Resort in Shanzu, Mombasa County, on May 22, 2019.
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A memo by PSC Chair Stephen Kirogo in November 2020 ruled out the possibility of extending the period of service of the affected staff to help deal with the effects of the pandemic. 

“We have decided that with effect from January 1, 2021, the commission shall not approve any extension of service for officers retiring from service upon attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 60 years and 65 years for persons with a disability,” read the memo in part. 

With no signs of lifting the suspension of employment by the National Treasury, the national and county governments are running on a stretched workforce. 

The retirement also means that the pension bill will jump by Ksh10 billion which is a 63.03% increase. 

In the current financial year, the Treasury requires Ksh109 billion which is expected to rise to Ksh153 billion in 2022. 

The Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) has warned that productivity is likely to be affected due to overstretched capacity. 

“There is no succession management in place by the employer, it's the worst in the region. There are a lot of young people in the service but not promoted to the level they can take over from those leaving,” UKCS Deputy Secretary-General Jerry ole Kina stated. 

However, Public Service CS Margaret Kobia downplayed the concerns, adding that the government was addressing the situation.

“Those are the numbers that have retired in the last three years and not significant to affect the service. A similar number has joined the service,” she stated. 

“The pipeline always has staff who take over from retiring officers, therefore service delivery has not been affected. With the digitisation of services the public service is moving towards a lean and effective staff responding to factors influenced by the effects of Covid-19 and the need for innovation and reforms,” the CS added. 

Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia
Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia
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