Relationship Between Post-Retirement Engagement and the Economic Empowerment of Corporate Retirees in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya

This study examined the relationship between post-retirement engagement and the economic empowerment of corporate retirees in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya. The study anchored on Activity Theory and Human Capital Theory. A convergent parallel mixed methods design was adopted, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data techniques. The target population comprised approximately 35,000 corporate retirees within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area. The research utilized proportionate stratified random sampling to select 380 retirees for quantitative surveys and purposive sampling to select 10 corporate retiree managers and co-working hub stakeholders for qualitative interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis, and multiple linear regression in SPSS and presented in tables. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically and reported narratively. The findings revealed a very strong positive and statistically significant relationship between post-retirement engagement and economic empowerment (r = .974, p = .000). The regression analysis further showed that entrepreneurial capacity was a strong predictor of economic empowerment (R = .974, R² = .949, Adjusted R² = .948, F = 6650.80, p = .000), with a oneunit increase in entrepreneurial capacity associated with a 0.945-unit increase in economic empowerment (B = .945, β = .974). The findings also showed that co-working hubs, active participation, and entrepreneurial capacity enhanced retirees' financial stability, income sustainability, entrepreneurial growth, improved standard of living, and social inclusion. However, limited access to co-working hubs, inadequate digital skills, high operational costs, and insufficient institutional support constrained many retirees from fully utilizing their professional experience. It concludes that structured post-retirement engagement is essential for promoting financial independence, social inclusion, and productive ageing among corporate retirees. The study recommends that government agencies, employers, and private sector stakeholders establish retiree-focused co-working hubs, expand digital and entrepreneurship training, strengthen professional networking platforms, and develop policies that facilitate retirees continued economic participation in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Kenya. Keywords: Post-retirement Engagement; Economic Empowerment; Corporate Retirees; Entrepreneurial Capacity; Sustainability; Financial Stability