Relationship between retirement and socio-economic and psychological status of former public servants in Vihiga County, Kenya

Abstract

Pension is paid to former workers residing in Vihiga County to help them transit safely into retirement. In spite of this, a number of these retirees still find difficulties to pay for their medical care, pay school fees for their children or even sustain their families. The influence of these difficulties has had far reaching negative social ramification in Vihiga County. As a result of similar problems facing retirees in other parts of the world, different measures have been introduced to mitigate the situation. For instance, a number of countries have had to adjust upwards retirement age, while others have removed mandatory retirement age and still others have introduced new forms of pension. The government of Kenya similarly, has had to shift from provision of counseling services to workers before they proceeded for retirement, to adjustment upwards of the retirement age and finally has legislated for introduction new form of pension. Despite the shift from one step to another, the suffering of retirees has not abated. This study therefore, intended to determine the relationship between retirement and socio-economic and psychological status of the retirees. The study was guided jointly by three theories namely, social disengagement theory, activity theory and continuity theory. A descriptive ex-post facto causal comparative survey research design was used to conduct the research study in Vihiga County. The accessible population for the study was 1038, comprising 958 former public servants and 80 local administration officers. Proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to select a total sample of 233 participants that comprised 198 retirees and 35 local administration officers. A questionnaire and focused group discussion schedule were used to collect data from 198 selected retirees while an interview schedule was used to collect data from 35 selected local administration officers. Mathematical techniques comprising of percentiles, pie chart, bar-graphs and inferential statistics comprising of chi square and t test with the help of SPSS version 17 were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study showed that there was a relationship between retirement and socioeconomic and psychological status of retirees. However the results did not show any difference in the relationship between retirement and socioeconomic and psychological status of retirees based on gender. These results further showed that despite lack of formal guidance and counseling services specifically tailored for workers proceeding for retirement nor for retirees in retirement, there was a relationship between the informal guidance and counseling services received and socioeconomic and psychological status of retirees. Vii. Thus the study recommended that; first, retirement program be improved so as to safeguard retirees against socioeconomic hardships. Secondly, retirement program be improved to safeguard retirees against psychological hardships. Finally, there is need to establish formal guidance and counselling services to address the challenges of workers proceeding for retirement and retirees.