The Public Service Commission has dismissed those grumbling that the PSs shortlist has persons aged above 60 years, saying the lot is exempted.
PSC, in a statement following concerns that the PSs recruitment has persons who have attained the official retirement age, said the rule doesn’t apply in this case.
It held that the requirement for retirement at age 60 only applies to public officers on permanent and pensionable terms of service.
“The 60-year rule applies to public officers appointed on permanent and pensionable terms of service. It doesn’t apply to state officers,” PSC director of public communication Browne Kutswa said.
He said state officers, including principal secretaries, are engaged on contractual terms hence not subject to the retirement age limit.
“Therefore, in short-listing applicants for the advertised position of PS, the commission acted in accordance with the law,” Kutswa said.
PSC is expected to conclude interviews for candidates who made it to the short-list Friday.
The process was marred by concerns that persons who have exited the service may return.
The decision to shortlist the lot is argued to run parallel with a directive by President William Ruto against engaging retirees.
Last July, the President said public servants who have attained 60 years will be required to immediately proceed on retirement with no extensions to their tenure.
A recent report by the PSC revealed that there were more than 1,400 public servants who are beyond the retirement age but were still holding various positions.
The Public Service Commission Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual, 2016, sets the mandatory retirement age at 60 years.
The procedures manual says all officers should retire from the service on attaining the age of retirement.
Public universities, it emerged, have the highest count of the said officers with 808 being older than 60 years.
Ministries, State Departments and Agencies had 154 officers who were still in office despite being over 60 years.
State corporations had 369 officers aged above 60 years and eight at constitutional commissions and independent offices. At least 81 staff at Technical and Vocational Training Institutions had passed retirement age.
ABOVE 60 YEARS
State House led with 47 staffers of 60 year above, 22 at Foreign Affairs department, 19 at Medical Services department, 13 at Internal Security and National Administration Department and 11 at the Cabinet Affairs Office.
The office of the DP was found with nine workers aged above 60 years, five at Water department, with the 24 flagged departments having a combined 154 workers over 60 years of age.
For state corporations, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization had the highest at 114.
Another 66 were cited at a major transport corporation while Muhoroni Sugar and Museums of Kenya had 18 and 15 staff over 60 years respectively.
PSC revealed that the youth represented 28 per cent of the public
service jobs, while 61 per cent were
aged between 19 and 46.
