• CS Duale inaugurated the committee on Wednesday at Defence headquarters in Nairobi.
• This will be part of efforts to implement the Military Veterans Act 2022.
Image: PCS
The welfare of retiring KDF soldiers and their dependants will now be adequately catered to by the state after a committee on veteran affairs was unveiled by Defence CS Aden Duale.
The Military Veterans Advisory Committee will institutionalise the provision of adequate medical services and education to dependants, among other welfare issues, to military personnel who have been honourably discharged.
CS Duale inaugurated the committee on Wednesday at Defence headquarters in Nairobi.
The team will be chaired by Major General (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo, who also served as Kenya's Ambassador to Somalia.
It has nine members who are mainly ex-soldiers
The CS said the move to institutionalise the management of veterans welfare issues was part of the objective of giving them a decent life after sacrificing for the country while in active service.
This will be part of efforts to implement the Military Veterans Act 2022.
Chief of the Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla said given the dynamic security threats that continue to emerge, KDF soldiers continue to be sent to outpost locations and for longer periods of time and this has caused various social challenges.
Some of the challenges include absenteeism from their families, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and substance abuse, family wrangles, among others.
The prolonged tour of duty away from their families also makes it difficult to smoothly transition from the military to civilian life, hence the need for a helping hand from the state.
“The prolonged operations have led to various social challenges among personnel post-traumatic stress disorders, family wrangles, absenteeism, drug and substance abuse,” he said.
He said that prior to the new law that was assented to by then President Uhuru Kenyatta in June 2022, the military had various ad hoc mechanisms to address such issues but it was not adequate.
But now there is hope, he said.
The Act also provides for the benefit of 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 for the education of 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 an 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 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 former servicemen and officers who served before or after 1963 in the colonial King’s African Rifles (KAR), post-colonial Kenya Armed Forces (KAF) or currently in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
“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 CS, who is the chairperson, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Air Force, Navy and Army commanders and the Defence PS.
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.