Top military commanders are Wednesday expected to preside over the inauguration meeting for the Military Veterans Advisory Committee.
This will be part of efforts to mobilise the Military Veterans Act 2022.
The Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale are scheduled to preside over the event at the Defence Headquarters.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Act on June 15, 2022, and 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 to educate 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, post-colonial Kenya Armed Forces or currently in the Kenya Defence Forces.
“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.