Mombasa County to train employees for life after retirement
According to Deputy Governor Francis Thoya, the initiative is intended to help staff transition smoothly into retirement and reduce the growing number of employees who seek contract extensions after attaining the mandatory retirement age.
The Mombasa County Government has unveiled plans to roll out a specialised training programme for employees nearing retirement, designed to prepare them for life beyond public service.
The initiative is designed to address a growing challenge in the county workforce, where many employees, upon reaching retirement age, frequently seek contract extensions due to inadequate planning for life after employment.
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The county government says both initiatives are part of broader efforts to improve staff welfare, raise productivity, and ensure that employees retire with dignity and confidence in their future. (Farhiya Hussein)
According to Deputy Governor Francis Thoya, the initiative is intended to help staff transition smoothly into retirement and reduce the growing number of employees who seek contract extensions after attaining the mandatory retirement age.
“We want to put in place a clear framework known as pre-retirement training. We have observed that many of our employees, after serving for 30 to 35 years, still come back to request contract extensions of six months or more. They often admit that they were not adequately prepared for retirement. But if we keep extending contracts for older staff, where will the younger generation find opportunities? This would create a real problem. That is why we have seen the need to train our people as they approach retirement,” said Thoya.
He spoke during the launch of the Public Service Week at the County Headquarters. Thoya noted that the training will be offered a year before employees leave service.
He also urged county staff to take up regular physical exercise to safeguard their health, pointing out that conditions such as diabetes currently affect nearly half of Mombasa’s workforce.
Mombasa Chief Officer in the Department of Public Service, Pauline Oginga, during the launch of the Public Service Week at the County Headquarters. (Farhiya Hussein)
Chief Officer in the Department of Public Service, Pauline Oginga, announced that alongside the retirement training, the county has also introduced a reward and recognition programme to honour exemplary employees and boost morale within the workforce.
“I would like to recommend a culture of rewarding and recognising those who work diligently, because at the moment it is lacking,” Oginga said.
“It pains me to see a dedicated employee retire after years of service without anything tangible to show for their contribution. One day they are here, the next day they are gone. We want to ensure that they leave with a sense of pride, knowing their work was valued. For those still serving, this programme will also be competitive to encourage commitment and excellence.”
The county government says both initiatives are part of broader efforts to improve staff welfare, raise productivity, and ensure that employees retire with dignity and confidence in their future.
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