Members of Parliament have commenced debate on a Bill that seeks to cap the retirement age of all civil servants at 60 years, as a move aimed at opening up job opportunities for young Kenyans.
The Public Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Mejjadonk also seeks to address the issue of officers acting in a position for more than six months.
The proposed law, is seeking for an amendment to be done on the Public Service Commission Act, 2017 to prescribe a mandatory retirement age of 60 years in a bid to increase the job vacancies available to other qualified Kenyans. The Bill wants the amendment done on Section 80 of the Act.
He added that it was also important for Parliament to have a proper legal framework to guide the question of officials in various government agencies serving in acting capacities for a prolonged period of time.
He gave the examples of the Kenya Medical Supply Agency, the Kenya Medical Research Institute as well as the Ministry of Health’s acting director-general, Dr. Patrick Amoth.
“The public service is suffering from lethargy and paralysis based on the fact that most of the senior positions in government have been held in acting capacities by people who hold the requisite experience, skills and qualifications, but they are unable to make firm decisions at crucial moments because they are in acting capacities,” Mathenge said.
- Treasury unveils new retirement policy for healthcare, retirement homes
- MPs begin occupying Bunge Tower after years of construction delay
- New bill seeks to shield retired civil servants from rising cost of living
Mukurwe-ini John Kaguchia stressed the need for civil servants approaching the retirement age of 60, to mentor and guide younger people who can take over after their service, to get the experience that is important for them to continue running different terms of the government.
“I have seen people who have attained the retirement age getting extensions to continue serving and whereas we continue benefiting from their experience, it also denies us the opportunity of the energy, the vigour, the vision of younger people who are experienced to continue serving,” said Kaguchia.
Laikipia MP Jane Kagiri, commended Mejjadonk for the Bill, saying that nobody should be in acting capacity for more than six months, because they lack stability in their work and lowering morale in service, eventually affecting the growth of the institutions.
Emuyaha MP Omboko Milemba supported the proposed change of having the retirement age in an Act of Parliament rather than in regulation. According to Milemba this will ensure strict enforcement.
“When retirement age remains as a regulation, it is being manipulated by people in power on who they will give additional years to serve and who they’ll not. Secondly, the acting capacity has been misused as many public servants have been acting in their positions for more than three years, and it is denying them the value for the job they are doing,” said Milemba.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
