- Enock Okong’o argues that retirement ceremonies are increasingly becoming expensive fundraising events that burden friends and colleagues.
- He says retirees who prefer quiet exits should not be judged by the size or glamour of their farewell ceremonies.
- The writer calls for guidelines to protect teachers and the public from pressure to finance elaborate retirement celebrations.
Retirement should be a moment of honour, dignity and quiet reflection. It is the final bow after years of faithful service, a time to thank God, embrace family and rest. But that noble meaning is slowly being lost. Today, especially among teachers and other public servants, retirement ceremonies are turning into commercial, public fundraising spectacles that are becoming a heavy burden to friends, former colleagues and the general public.
In the past, retirement was simple and sincere. A teacher would be escorted by his pupils, fellow teachers would contribute a soda and a cake, the headteacher would say a few words, and the retiree would go home with blessings. It was private, modest and meaningful.
Today, the script has changed completely.
Nowadays, you are sitting in your house and you receive a WhatsApp message or an SMS from someone you met 20 years ago. You have never talked since you parted in college or at a former station. You were not told when they were employed so that you could celebrate together. You never received a message saying, “I have been employed, come, we celebrate together.”
But now, during the exit time, you are suddenly remembered. You are being told to come and “celebrate together” by sending a donation. The message reads: “I am retiring on this date after 30 years of service. We are planning a colourful ceremony. If you will not attend, send your contribution through this M-Pesa number…”
Sometimes the contributions are fixed: KSh2,000 for friends, KSh5,000 for committee members and KSh10,000 for chief guests. Failure to comply is seen as disrespect.
What is more worrying is the social blackmail that comes with it. Those who do not attend for one reason or another — because of distance, work or lack of money — are labelled untrue friends, mean or jealous. In staff WhatsApp groups, names of contributors are read out. Those who have not contributed are shamed indirectly.
Retirement parties have become a competition and a gauging factor. Whose ceremony was more colourful? Who hired the best tents, the best caterers and the biggest public address system? Who invited more politicians and senior government officers? Who raised more money?
The focus is no longer on service, but on showing off.
Silence means you are a failure
If a teacher decides to retire silently, to go home quietly to his family after years of service, society turns against him. He is portrayed as a failure, as someone who was extravagant and never saved for his final work exit ceremony. People whisper, “Maybe he has nothing to show. Maybe he misused his salary.”
This mentality is forcing many retiring officers to organise expensive parties they cannot afford, just to avoid shame. They borrow money and contribute heavily to entertain crowds of people who will eat and leave, and after one day of fake glory, they go home to start a miserable retirement life in debt.
This should not be the case. Friendship should be continuous, not only remembered during a time of need. You cannot forget someone for 25 years and remember him only when you need money for tents and food. True friendship is built daily. If you were never there during the journey, you have no moral right to demand celebration at the destination.
Retirement must not be turned into a milking cow. It must not be a tool to tax friends, parents and the public who are already struggling with school fees, hospital bills and the high cost of living.
TSC must act
The Teachers Service Commission and other employers must come in and set standard guidelines on retirement ceremonies for teachers and other civil servants. Let it be clear that retirement is personal and voluntary. Let no teacher be coerced to hold a public fundraiser. Let schools be stopped from circulating paybill numbers in the name of a retiring colleague.
Some individuals are misusing these ceremonies to extort money from the public, including poor parents who fear their children will be victimised if they do not contribute.
Let retirement be simple, dignified and affordable. Let those who wish to celebrate do so within their means, with their close family and friends. Let those who wish to go silently be respected.
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Retirement is not about raising money and competing for fame. It is about giving thanks to God and honouring years of selfless service.
By Enock Okong’o
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