There is hope for a better life for military personnel retiring from service after the Military Veterans Advisory Committee was inaugurated on Wednesday.
This will be part of efforts to mobilise the Military Veterans Act 2022.
The Chief of Defence Forces Gen Francis Ogolla and Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale presided over the event at the Defence Headquarters saying it will help the personnel live a better life.
Gen Ogolla said the launch marks the operationalisation of the law which comes in handy to help the personnel.
He said prolonged wars and the stay of the personnel in combat zones expose them to many dangers including stress which affects their families.
“The prolonged operations have led to various social challenges among the personnel post-traumatic stress disorders, family wrangles, absenteeism, drug and substance abuse,” Ogolla said.
The CDF added the challenges are dragged to retirement and as a result of the lack of structures to support the personnel and the high cost of living, they end up in poor living conditions.
On his side, CS Duale explained that over the years, the Ministry of Defence and indeed the National Government has endeavoured to address the plight of KDF Personnel especially those retired from active service in terms of economic empowerment and medical care.
However, he noted that their social status and ability to foot their medical bills remain a challenge in today’s environment that presents volatilities, uncertainties, complexities and ambiguities that are likely to influence and undermine the respect of the fast-growing population of retired heroes and heroines of this great nation.
"If these threats and challenges are not appropriately and adequately mitigated, they may have existential consequences for our ex-KDF personnel," Duale said.
The CS urged the committee to fully commit to its mandate within the course of its tenure in office.
"I seek your indulgence in a free, unhindered and frank environment during your subsequent sittings as you work towards operationalizing the Act," Duale added.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Act on June 15, 2022, which establishes a regulatory and institutional framework for the management of military veterans' affairs.
The Act also provides for the benefits to military veterans and their dependants including the establishment of the Dependents' Education Fund by the Defence Council.
The government has in the past come under the spotlight for failing to cater to the needs of ex-soldiers.
The Fund will provide scholarships for the education of the children of deceased military veterans.
The Act further makes provisions for the Defence Council to prescribe regulations for the administration of the Fund including the procedure for processing applications for scholarships.
Further, the new law also establishes the advisory committee on military veterans that will advise and make recommendations to the Defence Council, Cabinet Secretary or Director of Military Veterans on any matter relating to the military veterans or their dependents.
Under the Act, the powers of the Defence Council include developing a policy on military veterans as well as considering proposals by the Cabinet Secretary, the Chief of Defence Forces or the Director of Military Veterans regarding the policy on funding and budgeting in connection with the military veterans’ affairs.
The Act will cover ex-servicemen and officers who served before or after 1963 in the colonial King’s African Rifles (KAR), post-colonial Kenya Armed Forces (KAF) or currently in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
“The Defence Council shall facilitate the provisions of benefits under this section to military veterans and their dependants through the ministry responsible for matters relating to military veterans, any other government ministry, department or agency, or a private entity,” the Act states.
The Council consists of the Defence Cabinet Secretary, who is the chairperson, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Air Force, Navy and Army commanders and the Defence Principal Secretary, all soldiers receiving a pension, discharged or retired from the armed forces or the KDF on medical grounds and who were not dishonourably discharged will benefit from the new scheme.
The new law is aimed at ensuring that military retirees who are struggling to make ends meet enjoy a dignified life after dedicating their lives to serving the country.
“Policies regarding military veterans shall be aimed at ensuring the smooth and seamless transition of military veterans from military service to civilian life,” the Act states.
It mandates the Defence Council to determine the benefits to be accorded to military veterans and their dependants including employment, education, training and skills development among others.