KDF Pension: Widows or widowers serving under the Kenya Defense Forces will lose their pension benefits if they remarry or get into new relationships. This is according to a report that was published by a local newspaper. According to the report that appeared in the Radio Africa’s The Star newspaper, the new rules that have been published by the Ministry of Defense provide that no payment shall be made to a KDF widow or widower who remarries or cohabits with another person as husband or wife.
The report further said that pension shall also be denied to any widow or widower who abandons any of a deceased KDF officer’s children. “The board shall cease payment of the pension from the date next following remarriage or cohabitation upon confirmation of the same,” the daily quoted the KDF (Pensions and Gratuities) (Officers and Service Members) Regulations, 2021. These rules were were gazetted by former Defence Cabinet Ssecretary Monica Juma and PS Ibrahim Mohamed on September 17.
The rules further said that when the widow or widower has children by a deceased KDF member under his or her charge, they may receive the pension on behalf of the children. It can also be sent to an approved guardian.
“The money is to be used in the maintenance and education of the child or children to the satisfaction of the [Pensions Assessment] Committee,” the rules said. “Pension for the child shall cease upon the marriage of the child.” The rules have set the cut-off age for marriage at 24 years.
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The ministry further provided that pensions and gratuities be paid within 90 days of an officers’ death or retirement. “Pension or gratuity shall be paid within 90 days from the date of retirement or from the date of the death of an officer or service member, except where such payment is delayed by court cases,” the rules stated.