Nairobi — With a Cabinet reshuffle imminent, the fate of top civil servants who are past the retirement age remains unknown.

On the spot are permanent secretaries for Finance, Mr Joseph Kinyua, Education's Karega Mutahi, and Energy's Patrick Nyoike.

The others are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, Dr James Nyikal and his counterpart in the Prime Minister's office, Mr Mohamed Isahakia.

There is also the Head of the Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Francis Muthaura, who is 60 years old.

The issue was first raised in Parliament in June by Kanu nominated MP Amina Abdallah, who wanted to know why there were PSs who were retained after the April 21 reshuffle and yet they had attained the mandatory retirement age of 55 years old.

There are indications that the Government intends to raise the bar to 60 years, in line with other East African countries.

In Rwanda, it is 65 years while in Tanzania and Uganda it is 60 years.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, Mr Titus Ndambuki, said the ministry was still consulting widely on the matter.

"Everything is in proposal form and before implementing it, we have to consult widely. There is nothing to worry about" Mr Ndambuki is on record as saying.

There are about 1,500 civil servants, who retire on reaching the 55-year mark.

However, the law allows the Government to employ someone who is past retirement age if it considers their continued service in the public interest.

The Minister for Public Service, Mr Dalmas Otieno, said in Parliament that had he been the "appointing authority," he would have made different choices.Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua has said the appointment of civil servants who are past retirement age did not contravene government policy.

"Some positions in Government are presidential appointments and the people serving there do so with authority from the one appointing them," he said.

Dr Mutua was categorical that there was nothing wrong with somebody who was over 55 years of age being put on contract by the Government.

Ms Abdallah had wondered about criteria used to retain the "white-haired men" in service while their younger counterparts were sent home.

She cited former top women civil servants Maria Nzomo, Rachel Arunga and Joyce Nyamweya whom the Government had poached from the United Nations and put her in charge of reforms.