PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Retired public servants demand improved pension scheme
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Retired public servants in Kenya want an improved pension package and recognition from the Government for their massive contribution to the development of the country.
The retirees are also asking the government to launch a free medical scheme for former civil servants, saying they too deserve medical cover.
They are opposed to the current scheme, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), where members and the general public contribute, calling for the establishment of a free one for their members.
Kenya Association of Retired Officers (KARO) Nairobi Branch chairman, Ibrahim Hussein, said retiring from employment is not retirement from life.
Life continues and the retirees are still very active members of society who contribute to the development of the country.
Speaking at a Karo Nairobi Branch forum in Nairobi Friday, Hussein, a former Teachers Service Commission (TSC) chairman, Kenya's public service one of the best in Africa, with highly trained and qualified personnel, and those who retired from the service should not be forgotten.
"All Kenyans, including retired public servants, have a right to good health, we want the government to provide us with a free medical cover,'' said Hussein.
He also called for an upward review of retirees pension scheme, noting that there is a big difference of what people who retired from the public service at different times,while in the same job group, earn in their pensions.
What a just retired civil servants earns today is three times higher than what his counterpart, in the same job group, who retired a few years back, is earning.
The Government should factor pensioners whenever it increases the salary of civil servants because all Kenyans, working or retired are affected by the high cost of living, Hussein said.
The officials also, noted that MPs and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) take home millions of shillings, some after serving for one term, while well-trained professionals in the publIc service, who dedicate their lives to serving the country, earn peanuts upon retirement.
"MPs and MCAs, who are rejected by voters after serving just a term taking home millions, while dedicated public servants get much less,'' said Hussein.
During the forum Hussein, Mark Oyoo and Joseph Kinyua, who served as interim chairman, secretary and treasurer, respectively, were confirmed in their positions, while Monica Kilonzo, Fridah Chahale and Aden Hussein were elected vice-chairman, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer respectively.
Among the members who attended the forum was a former cabinet minister, MP, provincial commissioner and now Garrisa Senator Yusuf Haji.
KARO Nairobi Branch secretary Mark Oyoo, asked members to fight for their space because nobody will give it them on a silver plate.
The officials urged the 250,000 retired civil servants to join the organization, wondering when it comes to improving their retirement package, the government finds it difficult, while millions of shillings are lost annually through corruption.
"We are told the government's plate full of demands, are we the ones who fill the plate", asked those in attendance, the bulk being those who held high positions in the public service.
-0- PANA DJ/VAO 24Nov2014
24 november 2017 13:06:57
The retirees are also asking the government to launch a free medical scheme for former civil servants, saying they too deserve medical cover.
They are opposed to the current scheme, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), where members and the general public contribute, calling for the establishment of a free one for their members.
Kenya Association of Retired Officers (KARO) Nairobi Branch chairman, Ibrahim Hussein, said retiring from employment is not retirement from life.
Life continues and the retirees are still very active members of society who contribute to the development of the country.
Speaking at a Karo Nairobi Branch forum in Nairobi Friday, Hussein, a former Teachers Service Commission (TSC) chairman, Kenya's public service one of the best in Africa, with highly trained and qualified personnel, and those who retired from the service should not be forgotten.
"All Kenyans, including retired public servants, have a right to good health, we want the government to provide us with a free medical cover,'' said Hussein.
He also called for an upward review of retirees pension scheme, noting that there is a big difference of what people who retired from the public service at different times,while in the same job group, earn in their pensions.
What a just retired civil servants earns today is three times higher than what his counterpart, in the same job group, who retired a few years back, is earning.
The Government should factor pensioners whenever it increases the salary of civil servants because all Kenyans, working or retired are affected by the high cost of living, Hussein said.
The officials also, noted that MPs and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) take home millions of shillings, some after serving for one term, while well-trained professionals in the publIc service, who dedicate their lives to serving the country, earn peanuts upon retirement.
"MPs and MCAs, who are rejected by voters after serving just a term taking home millions, while dedicated public servants get much less,'' said Hussein.
During the forum Hussein, Mark Oyoo and Joseph Kinyua, who served as interim chairman, secretary and treasurer, respectively, were confirmed in their positions, while Monica Kilonzo, Fridah Chahale and Aden Hussein were elected vice-chairman, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer respectively.
Among the members who attended the forum was a former cabinet minister, MP, provincial commissioner and now Garrisa Senator Yusuf Haji.
KARO Nairobi Branch secretary Mark Oyoo, asked members to fight for their space because nobody will give it them on a silver plate.
The officials urged the 250,000 retired civil servants to join the organization, wondering when it comes to improving their retirement package, the government finds it difficult, while millions of shillings are lost annually through corruption.
"We are told the government's plate full of demands, are we the ones who fill the plate", asked those in attendance, the bulk being those who held high positions in the public service.
-0- PANA DJ/VAO 24Nov2014
24 november 2017 13:06:57
