Busia KDF retirees form association for medical, financial help

KDF retirees in Teso, Busia county,

have formed an association following concern about their 'disappearance' after service.

Association

chairman

Pius Ikaal said the group was formed to address

financial and medical challenges after

a request from the Department of Defence.

Ikaal said most of the retirees have been living miserably and often die for lack of medical assistance.

"Our former bosses raised concern that most of the retirees disappear after taking in local brews making it very difficult to trace them."

He spoke during the burial of Kenya Defence Forces retiree Japer Opiri at Kakapel village on Saturday.

More than 40 retired officers attended the burial of the man who died aged 59.

Angurai South MCA Grace Omasete and Jane Opollo, widows of former military officers, also attended.

Ikaal said each member will pay a subscription fee of Sh200 and monthly contributions of Sh500.

The association also has a merry-go-round that sees members make contributions handed to members in turn.

The chairman said their other challenges concern remittance of pension by some banks.

Opiri, who died from throat cancer, joined the army in 1978. He was in the 81 Tank Battalion in Nakuru from 1979 to 1980 and 78 Tank Battalion from 1981 until retirement in 2013.

The officer participated in a peacekeeping mission in East Timor.

His colleagues eulogised him as a down-to-earth and friendly man.

Opiri left behind a widow and four children.

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