Military Veterans (General) Regulations

Legal Notice 166 of 2025

Military Veterans (General) Regulations

Citation: Legal Notice 166 of 2025
Primary work: Military Veterans Act
Date: 24 September 2025
Language: English
Type: Legal Notice
Original enactment: Download original enactment (PDF) (370.3 KB)

Skip to document content

LAWS OF KENYA

MILITARY VETERANS ACT

MILITARY VETERANS (GENERAL) REGULATIONS

LEGAL NOTICE 166 OF 2025

Commenced on 24 September 2025

Part I – PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS

1. Citation

These Regulations may be cited as the Military Veterans (General) Regulations.

2. Interpretation

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—“assessment” means—(a)the examination of a military veteran or dependant of a military veteran by a medical practitioner in the service of the Kenya Defence Forces or any other medical practitioner in the service of the Government for the purpose of determining the overall wellbeing of that military veteran or dependant taking into account—(i)any injury suffered by the military veteran;(ii)any psychological and neuro-psychiatric trauma suffered by the military veteran or dependant; or(iii)any disease contracted by a military veteran or dependant for the purpose of counselling and treatment for post-traumatic stress or related conditions and physical rehabilitation for any condition;(b)the examination by a medical practitioner of a military veteran in order to determine the severity of any—(i)mental illness;(ii)injury; or(iii)condition related to a mental illness or an injury, suffered by the military veteran for the purpose of rehabilitation; or(c)the evaluation of information contained in a medical assessment form or medical report by a medical practitioner for the purpose of rehabilitation for any medical condition;“dependant”, in relation to a military veteran, means—(a)the spouse; or(b)a child of the veteran who is not more than twenty-one years old;“military veteran” means a person regarded as a military veteran under section 5 of the Act; and“rehabilitation” means specialised healthcare service aimed at treating injuries, psychological trauma, neurological-psychiatric trauma and illnesses to optimise individual function and wellbeing.

3. Application

These Regulations shall apply to military veterans and their dependants.

4. Object and purpose of the Regulations

The object and purpose of these Regulations is to provide a framework for accessing benefits by military veterans and their dependants.

Part II – ADMINISTRATION OF MILITARY VETERANS’ AND DEPENDANTS' BENEFITS

5. Mandatory registration

(1)Any military veteran who intends to access any of the benefits conferred by section 6(1) of the Act shall apply to the Director in Form VET-01 as set out in the Schedule.

(2)A military veteran who makes an application under subregulation (1) shall, in the application, provide a list of his or her dependants for the purpose of those dependants accessing any of the benefits conferred by section 6(2) of the Act.

6. Military veterans’ database

(1)The Director shall establish, maintain and update a military veterans’ database.

(2)The military veterans’ database shall contain the following particulars of each military veteran—

(a)the name of the military veteran as entered on the military veteran’s national identity card;

(b)the date of registration as a military veteran;

(c)the military veteran’s national identity card number;

(d)the serial number assigned to the military veteran;

(e)the name, address and nature of business of the military veteran’s employer, where applicable;

(f)the physical and postal address of the military veteran;

(g)the e-mail address and telephone contacts of the military veteran; and

(h)any other relevant information that the Director may consider necessary.

(3)The military veterans’ database shall be kept in electronic and paper form.

7. Qualification for benefits

(1)A military veteran is eligible to receive benefits provided for in section 6(1) of the Act if—

(a)the military veteran satisfies the criteria prescribed under section 5 of the Act;

(b)the military veteran is duly registered by the Director;

(c)the military veteran’s details are entered in the military veterans database; and

(d)the military veteran has been issued with an identity card by the Director.

(2)The Directorate shall issue each military veteran’s dependant with a permit for the purposes of identification and access to the benefits provided for in section 6(2) of the Act.

8. Application documents

A military veteran shall submit the following documents when making an application for a benefit—

(a)a copy of the military veteran’s identity card;

(b)proof of spousal relationship status including a marriage certificate, where applicable;

(c)the birth certificate of any dependant, where applicable; and

(d)where the military veteran is married, the identity documents of the military veteran’s spouse.

9. Issue of military veterans identity cards and dependants’ permits

(1)The Director shall issue—

(a)each military veteran with a military veteran’s identity card; and

(b)each dependant of a military veteran with a dependant’s permit.

(2)The military veteran’s identity card or dependant’s permit issued under subregulation (1) shall be the property of the Kenya Defence Forces.

(3)The following procedure shall apply in the issuance of a military veteran’s identity card or dependant’s permit—

(a)the military veteran shall apply for the identity card in the prescribed form;

(b)the military veteran shall apply for a permit on behalf of the military veteran’s dependant in the prescribed form; and

(c)where the military veteran is deceased, the military veteran’s dependant shall apply for the dependant’s permit in the prescribed form and the application shall be accompanied by proof of the relationship between the dependant and the deceased military veteran.

(4)Where the military veteran is deceased and his or her dependant is a minor or otherwise unable to apply for the dependant’s permit, the surviving parent or, where there is no surviving parent, the guardian may apply to the director for the dependant’s permit and the Director shall facilitate the registration process.

(5)Where a military veteran’s identity card or dependant’s permit has expired, or is torn, worn out, mutilated, tampered with or otherwise rendered unserviceable, the holder thereof shall surrender the identity card or permit to the Director and apply for a replacement in the manner prescribed in paragraphs (3)(a), (b) or (c).

(6)A military veteran’s identity card or dependant’s permit is non-transferable.

(7)The issuance of a military veterans’ identity card or dependant’s permit is not a right and shall be at the discretion of the Defence Council.

10. Loss of military veteran’s identity cards and dependant’s permits

(1)Any military veteran or dependant who loses his or her military veteran’s identity card or dependant’s permit shall, without undue delay, report the loss to the nearest police station and obtain a police abstract.

(2)To obtain a new identity card, a veteran shall visit the nearest military veterans’ office, pay the requisite fee in such a manner and at such a rate as may be prescribed by the Defence Council.

(3)To obtain a new dependant’s permit the dependant shall be required to visit the nearest military veteran’s office.

(4)Where the military veteran is deceased and his or her dependant is a minor or otherwise unable to apply for a replacement of the dependant’s permit, the surviving parent or, where there is no surviving parent, the guardian may apply to the Director for a replacement of the dependant’s permit and the Director shall facilitate the application process.

11. Counselling and treatment

(1)Where a military veteran or dependant qualifies for counselling and treatment for post-traumatic stress or a related condition, or physical rehabilitation, the counselling, treatment or rehabilitation shall be conducted at a military medical facility or a medical facility authorized in that behalf by the Defence Council.

(2)The Defence Council, on the advice of the Committee, shall determine the manner of accessing the benefits contemplated under paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 6(1) of the Act taking into account the assessment and award granted in accordance with the Kenya Defence Forces (Pensions and Gratuities) (Officers and Service Members) Regulations.

(3)In this regulation, “military medical facility” means a Kenya Defence Forces Level IV, Level V or Level VI hospital.

12. Employment placement

(1)The Director shall establish a database of military veterans’ skills and qualifications for employment placement and, subject to the availability of opportunities—

(a)co-ordinate the re-employment and absorption of qualified military veterans into the Kenya Defence Forces or a Ministry, department or agency affiliated with the Kenya Defence Forces on such terms as the Defence Council may prescribe;

(b)liaise with Ministries, departments and agencies and other service providers in facilitating employment placements for military veterans and their dependants; and

(c)conduct resource mobilization through proceeds of corporate social responsibility activities for the benefit of unemployed dependants of veterans.

(2)Any military veteran or military veteran’s dependant who qualifies for facilitation for purposes of employment placement shall submit a curriculum vitae and all relevant documents to the Director for facilitation subject to availability of employment opportunities.

13. Business opportunities

(1)The Director may facilitate or advise military veterans and their dependants on business opportunities individually or collectively as a group.

(2)The Defence Council shall establish decentralised welfare services at the county level to for the purposes of improving and sustaining the quality of life for military veterans and dependants by—

(a)co-ordinating socio-economic activities of military veterans and their dependants;

(b)forming part of the intervention mechanisms for military veterans and their dependants;

(c)co-ordinate the welfare of military veterans with relevant Government Ministries, departments and agencies; and

(d)sharing information and providing advice on business opportunities that may be available to military veterans or their dependants.

14. Honouring and memorialising military veterans

The Committee shall advice and recommend to the Defence Council on the conferment of any honour on, or the memorialising of, any military veteran.

15. Education, training and skills development

The Director shall develop, promote and support programmes for the education, training and skills development of military veterans for the purposes of retooling and re-skilling the military veterans.

16. Cessation and restoration of benefits and privileges

(1)The Defence Council may, by notice in writing addressed to the recipient, cease to provide the benefits granted to a military veteran or the dependant under section 6 of the Act where the Defence Council is satisfied that the military veteran or dependant to whom a benefit has been conferred or granted—

(a)has taken part in subversive activities against Kenya;

(b)has shown, by act or speech, to be disloyal or disaffected towards the Kenya;

(c)has failed to fulfil his or her commitments concerning the reserve liability requirements;

(d)has committed any criminal or non-capital offence for which he is convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment;

(e)is convicted of a capital offence; or

(f)has conducted himself or herself in a manner that is prejudicial to military discipline, safety or security.

(2)The Defence Council may direct that the benefits granted to the military veteran or the military veteran’s dependant under section 5 of the Act shall cease from a specified date.

(3)Where a military veteran or a military veteran’s dependent had his or her benefits withdrawn on account of imprisonment for the commission of an offence, the Defence Council may, at any time after his or her pardon, commutation of sentence or release from prison, restore the benefits on re-application by the military veteran or military veteran’s dependent and upon recommendation, in writing, by the Committee.

Part III – MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

17. Publications by military veterans

The Committee, through the Director, shall cause to be published journals, magazines, books or other literature, including in paper and electronic form, for the purpose of promoting the objects and principles of military veterans.

18. Collaboration with other military veterans associations

(1)The Director, under the supervision of the Chief of Defence Forces may, for the purposes of better carrying out the functions of the Director—

(a)enter into an agreement to collaborate with a regional or international military veterans’ organisation; or

(b)enter into an agreement for mutual recognition with another military veterans’ organisation.

(2)An agreement interfered into under subregulation (1) shall clearly define the terms of association or collaboration, including the objectives and the duration of such collaboration.

SCHEDULE [r. 5(1)]

Form VET-01

MILITARY VETERANS’ REGISTRATION FORM

SERVICE NUMBER		PENSION NUMBER
(Please provide your service Number)		(Please provide your Pension if applicable)

MANDATORY DOCUMENTS:The following items are required for registration:

(a)Copy of your NATIONAL ID CARD

(b)Passport size photo

(c)Copy of your discharge book

(d)Copies of dependants’ National ID Card or birth certificates, where applicable

[All the required fields shall be filled in English]PERSONAL DATA: 1

Surname First/Last name:
Gender: MALE FEMALE
National ID Number:		Address
Date of birth:		Telephone Number:
E-mail

PERSONAL DATA: 2

(a)Date of enlistment:

(b)Place of Service:

Kenya Army	Kenya Airforce	Kenya Navy	King's African Rifles

Resident County	Resident ward

(c)Date of Discharge.................................................................................................

(d)Rank on Discharge................................................................................................

(e)Citizenship:Single....................................................................................................................Dual (If dual, indicate other country) ..................................................................

(f)Resident Sub-County:..........................................................................................

(g)Chief’s number:...................................................................................................

(h)Duration of Service:.............................................................................................

(i)Reason for Discharge

..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ADDITIONAL PERSONAL DETAILS: 3

(a)Disability Status: Disabled [ ] Not Disabled [ ]

(b)Nature of disability (if any)..................................................................................

(c)Current Education:..............................................................................................

(d)Medical Scheme:Do you have a medical scheme? Yes [......] No [.......]If yes, name the scheme and membership no.......................................................................................................................................................................................

(e)Current Occupation:.............................................................................................

(f)Speciality/Trade:.................................................................................................

SPOUSE DETAILS: 4

(a)Surname:...........................................

(b)Relationship: Husband [ ] Wife [ ]

(c)National ID Number:...........................................................................................

(d)Address:..............................................................................................................

DEPEDANTS’ DETAILS: 5 Note: Dependants must be 21 years old and below:

1)Name:.......................................................................................................................Age:...........................................................................................................................ID.Number (if at least 18 years):............................................................................Mobile No.................................................................................................................

2)Name:........................................................................................................................Age:...........................................................................................................................ID. Number:..............................................................................................................Mobile No.................................................................................................................

3)Name:........................................................................................................................Age:..........................................................................................................................ID. Number:.............................................................................................................Mobile No................................................................................................................

4)Name:.......................................................................................................................Age:..........................................................................................................................ID. Number..............................................................................................................Mobile No................................................................................................................DEFOCA: 6

(a)Are you a DEFOCA member? [YES] [NO]

(b)If yes, state your DEFOCA number:....................................................................

DECLARATION:I, the undersigned, declare that the information provided above is, to the best of my knowledge, true and complete.I further declare that:• I am citizen of Kenya.• I have not been deprived of my civic rights.• I have complied with the provisions of all military laws applicable to me.• I undertake to submit, as soon as requested, any documents in support of the above statements and declarations.• I realise that any false statement or omission, even if unintended on my part, may lead to the cancellation of my application or may render my appointment liable to termination.• I am willing to undergo the prescribed medical examination prior to appointment and to provide a sworn affidavit to the effect that I have no criminal record.Finally, I declare my commitment to act independently in the Agency’s interest and I have no interests that might be considered prejudicial to my independence.

(Date)

(Signature - handwritten)

▲ To the top

History of this document

24 September 2025 this version

Commenced