Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of its employees by organizing a comprehensive pre-retirement training session for staff aged 50 and above.
Held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC), the event was organized by the JKUAT Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme and sponsored by Gen Africa Asset Managers.
Gen Africa is a licensed fund management company operating in Kenya and Uganda, specializing in investment management services for both institutional and retail clients.
The training aimed to equip participants with practical tools and knowledge to ensure a smooth, secure, and dignified transition into retirement.
It focused on several core areas: helping staff identify potential post-employment ventures, envisioning their preferred retirement lifestyles, planning financially, and strengthening savings and investment strategies. The event also addressed psychological and emotional readiness, emphasizing holistic well-being.
The event drew a significant turnout of staff members eager to prepare for the next chapter of their lives. Addressing the participants, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, emphasized the importance of preparing early for retirement in a speech read on her behalf by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Production, and Extension (RPE), Prof. Jackson Kwanza.
“Retirement is inevitable, and the challenges it brings emotional, psychological, and financial are real. Early and informed preparation is not just advisable; it is essential,” Prof. Ngumi noted in her speech. She reiterated JKUAT’s unwavering support for staff through initiatives like the Retirement Benefits Scheme, which she described as “a meaningful investment in our dignity, independence, and peace of mind during retirement.”
A key highlight of the training was the presentation on “The Seven F’s” a framework designed to help participants manage retirement across multiple dimensions: financial management, financial security, family resources, family relationships, friendships, fun, and familiarization with the retirement process.
FCS Happi Kilongosi, the key facilitator, delivered impactful insights on financial awareness. She broke down the three essential stages of wealth creation: “Making money is action, keeping money is behavior, and growing money is knowledge.” She also stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced ecosystem aligning personal priorities with financial obligations.
The training saw active involvement from staff representatives, including Trustee Erastus Naivasha (non-teaching staff, Grade 5–15), Esther Mboro (non-teaching staff, Grade 1–4), and Jomo Njenga, who represented academic staff from the School of IT and Computing. Their presence underscored the university’s broad institutional support for the initiative.
Reflecting on the session, Jomo Njenga expressed appreciation to the university, stating that the training had provided invaluable lessons on financial planning and how to better engage with family in retirement. He emphasized the importance of the practical takeaways and the value of such initiatives in preparing staff for life after formal employment.
Through this proactive engagement, JKUAT continues to champion a supportive, future-focused environment for its employees ensuring they not only prepare for retirement but embrace it with confidence and clarity.