The Public Service Commission (PSC) has introduced new retirement age guidelines for academic, research and non-teaching staff working in public universities and research institutions across Kenya.
The directive, issued by PSC Chief Executive Officer Paul Famba, took effect in March 2026 and aims to standardise retirement policies across public institutions. The new framework sets retirement ages between 60 and 75 years depending on academic rank and disability status.
According to the Commission, the move is meant to eliminate inconsistencies that have existed for years regarding retirement terms in the country’s higher education sector.
“The Constitution places the mantle of human resource management in the public service on the Public Service Commission,” Famba said. “This includes ensuring the public service is efficient and effective while reviewing and recommending conditions of service for public officers.”
Retirement ages determined by academic rank
Under the revised framework, professors and associate professors will retire at 70 years, while those registered as persons with disabilities will retire at 75 years.
Senior lecturers and lecturers will retire at 65 years, with the retirement age extended to 70 years for persons with disabilities.
The policy also affects research scientists working in government research institutions. Scientists holding a PhD will retire at 65 years, or 70 years if they are persons with disabilities.
Research scientists with a master’s degree and relevant publications will also retire at 65 years, with the retirement age extended to 70 years for those registered as persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, assistant lecturers, tutorial fellows and junior researchers will retire at 60 years, or 65 years if they are persons with disabilities.
For non-teaching staff, the mandatory retirement age remains 60 years, while employees registered as persons with disabilities will retire at 65 years.
New policy replaces earlier government circular
The PSC said the directive replaces the earlier government circular issued in 2009, which had guided retirement in public universities and research institutions.
The Commission noted that the new framework is intended to ensure uniformity and compliance across the public service.
Famba directed university councils, vice chancellors, Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries to ensure strict adherence to the new rules.
The circular is based on Section 70(1)(c) of the Public Service Commission Regulations, 2020, which gives the Commission authority to determine retirement age for lecturers and research scientists in consultation with relevant institutions.
Policy expected to end long-running disputes
The policy shift follows years of debate and legal disputes over retirement terms for senior academics and research scientists.
In several court cases, researchers argued that their retirement age should match that of university professors. Courts in some instances ruled that the scientists had a legitimate expectation to serve longer based on past agreements and collective bargaining arrangements.
The new directive now formally harmonises retirement ages across public universities and research institutions.
Officials say the reforms will help institutions retain experienced scholars while ensuring clarity and consistency in employment policies across Kenya’s higher education sector.
Tags: Kenya Public Service Commission, Paul Famba, university retirement age Kenya, PSC retirement policy, Kenya universities, academic staff retirement, research institutions Kenya, public service reforms Kenya
