NAIROBI, KENYA — A decision by the Kenyan Ministry of Defence to discontinue the lunch subsidy program for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), effective July 1, 2025, has reportedly caused unease within the ranks.
A memo, authenticated by Vivid Voice News and signed by Major General Mohammed Nur Hassan, attributes the shift to a “pay-as-you-eat” (PAYE) system to the identified inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the previous subsidy program.
This new directive, which has generated concern among KDF personnel, mandates the termination of the exchequer-funded lunch subsidy program at the close of the current financial year, with the PAYE system set to be implemented on July 1, 2025.
A communication signed by Major General Hassan on October 17, 2024, reveals that a review committee, tasked with assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the subsidy program, presented its findings to the service commanders committee.
This committee comprises the commanders of the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, and Kenya Navy. Their meeting on October 29, 2024, resulted in a recommendation for “the transition from the existing exchequer-funded lunch program to the pay-as-you-eat (PAYE) system, necessitated by the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the former system.”
The memo further instructs service commanders to develop cost-effective, cashless payment methods, including M-Pesa Paybill numbers, to facilitate meal payments for soldiers.
“The system is to be deployed no later than March 31, 2025, to facilitate meal bookings and payments, ensuring accountability and efficiency… Note that the PAYE system is scheduled to be operational on July 1, 2025,” the communique states.
The new directive reportedly caused jitters among the officers, a majority who are junior in the service, who will now have to dig deeper into their pockets to protect the country.
However, the ministry has defended the plan which seeks to save about Ksh.2-3 billion per financial year.
“The decision to transition from exchequer-funded lunch program for service members to pay-as-you-eat (PAYE) has been necessitated by the need to streamline budgetary allocation, efficiency in the use of government resources, facilitating access to a variety of meals that suit individual preferences and alignment to best military practices both regionally and internationally,” it said.
The Ministry of Defence explained the rationale behind the change, stating, “The exchequer feeding system has proven to be non-cost-effective. It lacks flexibility in terms of timing, does not provide convenient dining locations, and restricts Kenya Defence Forces service members from having a variety of meals to cater to individual preferences.”
The statement further elaborated on the system’s shortcomings, noting that it “is faulted for loss of working hours due to long queues and duplication of ration scales when service members are assigned duties to different camps.”
The ministry also clarified that the funds previously allocated to the exchequer feeding program will be redirected towards upgrading existing dining facilities and procuring necessary catering equipment.
The introduction of a ration cash allowance within the Kenya Defence Forces dates back to 2000, coinciding with the discontinuation of provisions for other meals (breakfast and dinner). Since its inception, this allowance has been subject to several upward revisions to mitigate the impact of inflation on personnel.
