This archive report was first published on 5 October 2021.
Published on October 4, 2021, a report by The Star newspaper revealed that the Ministry of Defense has introduced new rules governing pension payments to KDF widows and widowers.
The rules, gazetted by former Defence Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma and PS Ibrahim Mohamed on September 17, 2021, state that no payment shall be made to a KDF widow or widower who remarries or cohabits with another person as husband or wife.
Additionally, pension shall be denied to any widow or widower who abandons any of a deceased KDF officer's children. The rules also specify that when the widow or widower has children by a deceased KDF member under their charge, they may receive the pension on behalf of the children, which can also be sent to an approved guardian.
The pension is intended for the maintenance and education of the child or children, to the satisfaction of the Pensions Assessment Committee. However, pension for the child shall cease upon the marriage of the child, with a cut-off age of 24 years.
The Ministry of Defense has also set a 90-day deadline for the payment of pensions and gratuities to officers who have died or retired. This payment must be made within 90 days, except where it is delayed by court cases.
