Govt Starts Process of Raising Minimum Pensions

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Amos Gathecha (left) , Kenya Association of Retired Officers (KARO) Chairperson, Mr. Ahmed Hussein Ahmed and a member of the association during a meeting on January 19, 2023.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Amos Gathecha (left), Kenya Association of Retired Officers (KARO) Chairperson, Ahmed Hussein Ahmed and a member of the association during a meeting on January 19, 2023.
Ministry of Public Service

The government on Thursday, January 19, announced plans to review the minimum pension received by retired public servants in the country.

This follows a meeting between the Principal Secretary (PS), State Department of Public Service Amos Gathecha, and a delegation from the Kenya Association of Retired Officers (KARO) led by Chairperson, Ahmed Hussein Ahmed in his Nairobi office. 

In a statement issued by the State Department of Public Service, the review will focus on retirees who receive a monthly pension of less than  Ksh3,300. 

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Amos Gathecha (third from left) poses for photo with members of the Kenya Association of Retirees Organization aftyer meeting on January 19, 2023.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Amos Gathecha (third from left) poses for a photo with members of the Kenya Association of Retirees Organization after meeting on January 19, 2023.
Ministry of Public Service

"The discussion included the review of the pensions of all retirees receiving less than Ksh. 3,300 per month," read the statement in part. 

Further, the meeting deliberated plans and a roadmap for the actualization of medical insurance coverage for all Public Service retirees.

Also among the objectives of the meeting was a request by the retirees to have members of the association included in relevant committees and task forces dealing with matters relating to their welfare. 

According to them, including senior citizens in such committees will help to offer relevant insights to the concerned agencies in efforts to take care of the former public servants. 

In addition, the PS announced that the meeting resolved to craft a development of a policy for Senior Citizens' welfare in view of their access to basic commodities and services.

If actualized, the reviews would be a continuation of President William Ruto's interventions in matters touching on retirees' welfare.

In November 2022, the President directed all public institutions to clear arrears owed to pensioners within a period of two years. 

He also announced plans to partner with pensioners in raising capital for investments in the affordable housing plan projects under his government's agenda.

“I want the government and pension entities to agree on a framework for the payments to be done in two years,” Ruto stated. 

He noted that his government intends to work closely with such associations to borrow from their savings as an alternative to the perennial borrowing that risked plunging the economy into further crises. 

President William Ruto during the Engagement with Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices, State House, Nairobi on January 17, 2023.
President William Ruto during the Engagement with Constitutional Commissions and Independent Offices, State House, Nairobi on January 17, 2023.
William Ruto