The Public Service Commission has issued a circular setting mandatory retirement ages for academic and non-teaching staff in all public universities and research institutions across Kenya.
According to the new guidelines, Professors will retire at 70 years, with persons with disabilities allowed to serve until 75 years. Senior Lecturers are required to retire at 65 years, with PWDs permitted to continue until 70. Assistant Lecturers must retire at 60 years. For non-teaching staff—administrative, technical, support and clerical personnel—the mandatory retirement age remains 60 years, with PWDs allowed an extension to 65 years.
PSC Chairperson Anthony Muchiri said the decision followed extensive consultations with university councils, academic staff unions, the Universities Academic Staff Union, the Ministry of Education, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and representatives of persons with disabilities. “The retirement ages strike a balance between the need to retain experienced academic staff for longer periods and the imperative to create opportunities for younger scholars and professionals,” Muchiri stated in the circular. “Extending the service of senior academics helps preserve institutional memory, mentorship capacity and research output, while the earlier retirement for non-teaching staff aligns with the standard public-service age and ensures generational renewal.”
The higher retirement age for Professors and Senior Lecturers reflects global trends in higher education, where many countries allow distinguished academics to remain active well into their 70s. Kenya’s move is expected to benefit fields such as medicine, engineering, agriculture and social sciences, where senior faculty often lead critical research projects, supervise postgraduate students and attract international grants.
Universities Academic Staff Union Secretary-General Constantine Wasonga welcomed the adjustment for teaching staff but expressed concern about its implementation. “We have long advocated for Professors and Senior Lecturers to retire at 70 because their expertise is irreplaceable,” Wasonga said. “However, we urge the government to ensure that the extension is not used to block promotions or deny employment to younger PhD holders. There must be a clear succession policy so that the benefit does not become a bottleneck for career progression.”
For non-teaching staff, the retention of 60 years (65 for PWDs) aligns with the general public-service retirement age under the Pensions Act. The PSC emphasised that the policy applies uniformly across all public universities, university colleges and research institutions funded by the government, including those under the Ministry of Education and other line ministries.
The circular also clarifies that staff who reach the mandatory retirement age will be entitled to full pension benefits, gratuity and any accrued leave days as per existing regulations. Those granted extensions due to disability must undergo medical certification and annual performance reviews to confirm continued fitness for duty.
The Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers, which represents many non-teaching staff, said the decision was expected but called for better post-retirement support. “Sixty years is reasonable for administrative and support roles,” a union official said. “But we want to see faster processing of pension payments and improved medical cover for retirees so they do not suffer after decades of service.”
Persons with disabilities and their representative organisations praised the five-year extension as a progressive step toward inclusion. “Allowing PWDs to serve longer recognises that disability does not automatically diminish capacity,” said a spokesperson for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. “This policy sends a strong message that talent and experience matter more than arbitrary age limits.”
The new retirement ages take effect immediately for all staff who have not yet reached their mandatory retirement date. Universities and research institutions have been directed to update their human-resource policies, notify affected staff and prepare succession plans to ensure continuity of teaching, research and administration.
The reform is expected to have a phased impact on staffing levels, with universities likely to see increased retirements of Professors and Senior Lecturers over the next decade, creating openings for younger academics. The PSC has promised to monitor the transition and address any unintended consequences through dialogue with stakeholders.
As Kenya continues to expand its higher-education and research capacity, the standardised retirement ages aim to balance experience retention with opportunities for new talent, while promoting inclusivity for persons with disabilities in the academic and public-service workforce.
