Head of The PSC Clarifies On Retirement Age

Head of The PSC Clarifies On Retirement Age

Head of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Felix Koskei has clarified on the mandatory retirement age for all civil servants.

According to Koskei mandatory retirement age is 60 years and 65 years for persons with disabilities.

He has reminded appointing authorities not to extend terms of service for public officers beyond the mandatory retirement age.

In a circular dated August 5, Koskei urged state officials to comply with the directive.

“Attention is drawn to Section 80 (1)(a) and (b) of the Public Service Commission Act, 2017, which provides that a public officer shall retire from the service with effect from the date of attaining the mandatory retirement age,” he said.

In the circular, he further stated that the Commission or other appointing authority shall not extend the service of such retired public officer beyond the mandatory retirement age.

The circular was copied to all Principal Secretaries and Accounting Officers in all ministries, the Solicitor General, CEOs of constitutional commissions, clerks of the Senate and the National Assembly, the Chief Registrar – Judiciary, CEOs of State corporations, county secretaries, county governments and clerks of County Assemblies and CEOs of County Public Service Boards.

Koskei said the mandatory retirement age for Academic Staff in Public Universities, Research Scientists and Judicial Officers will be guided by relevant legislation and guidelines.

He added that some appointing authorities have been extending services for public officers beyond the mandatory retirement age contrary to the law.

As of August 2024, more than 43,000 people were listed as expected to retire in the next five years.

Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the arising vacancies will be prioritised for the youth.

“In total, the number of people who will be retiring in the next five years will be over 43, 976 people,” he said.

Mwaura said the number of those who are under permanent and pensionable terms and those who are under contracts, bringing the number of job vacancies to around 46,000.

President William Ruto on July 5 directed public servants aged 60 years and above to proceed on retirement.

As part of austerity measures to cut costs of running government, he said there would be no extension of tenures for civil servants.

“They are directed to do this with no extensions to their tenure of service,” Ruto said.

As of December 2023, PSC data shows that more than 4,500 civil servants aged 60 and above who have not retired.

Another 25,879, from the reporting 520 agencies, were aged between 56 and 60 years, all of whom will hit retirement age in the next three years.

The PSC Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual, 2016, sets civil servants’ mandatory retirement age at 60.

Persons with disabilities are allowed an extra five years and are expected to exit once they are 65 years old.