Challenges Affecting the Livelihood of Teachers After Retirement in Kenya: a Case Study of Kisii Central Subcounty in Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

Retirement is a stage in one’s career trajectory when one is required by law to exit service on account of their age. In Kenya this age is 60 years although up to 2012 the retirement age was 55 years. Retirement is a major shift in life and comes with various challenges especially with regard to adaptation and declining income. The aim of this study was to find out the challenges affecting the livelihoods of teachers after retirement in Kisii Central Sub-county. The specific objectives of the study were to: explore the challenges affecting their livelihoods; analyze the effect of personal attributes of teachers in their reintegration into the society after retirement, and to investigate the ways retired teachers use to cope with the challenges facing their wellbeing after retirement. The study employed a descriptive research design. The study targeted retired teachers who were drawing monthly pension and were living within Kisii Central Sub-county in Kisii County. In this study stratified random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were employed to identify respondents. A total of 51 retired teachers were sampled. In terms of challenges faced in retirement the study found out that the nature of intra-family relationships were strained after retirement due to declining income and some retirees’ health deteriorated. The study also found out that the retired teachers were lacking good financial stability to take care of themselves. For instance 39% of retired teachers sold their assets to meet their financial obligations. The study concludes that retirees faced unforeseen challenges and that those could be mitigated through pre-retirement training and information sharing with family members upon retirement. The study recommends that the TSC pays the lump sum retirement immediately a teacher retires and they should be trained on how to handle the lump sum.