Thousands of government workers could soon lose their jobs if fresh demands from the Senate are acted upon.
The call, spearheaded by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, urges the government to retire all civil servants who have already reached or surpassed the official retirement age of 60.
These demands follow repeated warnings from auditors who have highlighted Kenya’s “ageing workforce” as a growing challenge within the public service.
While presenting the Progress Report of the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration—specifically on investigations into diversity and inclusivity within state agencies—Senator Cherargei said that one of the major problems in government is the increasing number of employees staying in office long after they should have retired.
He questioned why many top positions in government are still held by older workers, asking how young Kenyans are expected to get job opportunities if those above 60 refuse to leave public service.
“How can our youth get jobs if people are 60 years old and don’t want to go home?” Cherargei asked during the session. “We must be told why a majority of employees at the Public Service Commission are older people,” he added, insisting that the system needs urgent reforms.
Currently, Kenya’s mandatory retirement age for civil servants is 60 years, with an allowance for people with disabilities to work until 65. Despite this clear policy, several audits over the years have shown that a number of officers remain in service past the required age.
A 2024 audit revealed that employees aged 60 and above made up about 1.8% of the 253,318 officers reviewed at the time.
Additionally, a July 2024 report indicated that nearly 25,879 public servants—across 520 government agencies—were between 56 and 60 years old. This means they are expected to retire within the coming three years.
Auditors have also noticed that some individuals continue working past 60 either because they possess specialised skills that government still needs or due to administrative delays and loopholes that prevent timely implementation of retirement policies.
Senator Cherargei strongly criticised older officers who hold on to their positions, saying this behavior blocks opportunities for unemployed youth and deepens the job crisis in the country.
“Madam Speaker, I walk around and meet a 48-year-old P1 teacher who has never been employed. The Teachers Service Commission must be held accountable,” he said, expressing frustration over the growing backlog of qualified but jobless professionals.
According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), youth unemployment remains extremely high—standing at about 67% among people aged 15 to 34.
Several senators argued that strictly enforcing the retirement age, or even lowering it, would open up thousands of positions for young Kenyans looking for employment.
They insisted that refreshing the workforce would not only create opportunities but also help address long-standing concerns about representation, fairness, and efficiency in public service.
Join Gen z Official WhatsApp Channel to share your thoughts and stay updated on time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
