Aisha Jumwa recommends retirees removed from public service

Aisha Jumwa, the Public Service Cabinet Secretary has said civil servants working beyond the mandatory retirement age will be sent home.

The CS said she has asked the Public Service Commission to document all retirees serving on contacts despite having attained the age of 60.

"I noticed that there are older people who have attained the mandatory retirement age but you find that they go to maybe the PSC and they get contracts. They have already retired and instead of going home they are offered contracts for two more years, one year, and so on," said CS Jumwa.

The law requires that civil servants retire at 60 years. Speaking on Thursday during an interview with Citizen TV, Jumwa said the officers' days are numbered.

She said their exit will create job opportunities for young people.

"I wrote a letter to the PSC and told them that we have a law and if someone has attained the required age to retire aende akiendanga so that we give younger people opportunities," she added.

The CS said her resolve to rid the public service of the older staff who have retired is in line with President William Ruto's agenda to create jobs for hustlers.

"We have also said in this in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto that we will create job opportunities for young people in the nation," she said.

She said that once implemented, that will pave the way for a "seamless transition for university students into the working sector".

The CS regretted that the problem is deeply entrenched across the public service with some elements not ready to call it quits.

"What will happen to university graduates who are looking for jobs? I have been visited by many of them, yet there are offices they qualify to occupy but the positions are held with people who ought to have retired," she said.

"That is why you look at some of these government positions and you ask yourself why is this person still here?"