KDF officers to dig deeper into pockets as lunch subsidy program ends Monday

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers will, from Tuesday, July 1, dig deeper into their pockets to pay for their meals as the new pay-as-you-eat (PAYE) system becomes fully operational.

The rollout of the PAYE system immediately replaces the traditional exchequer-funded lunch program, despite disquiet from a section of servicemen and women of lower ranks, who heavily depend on the subsidy initiative for survival.

A letter from the Kenya Army Headquarters dated June 23 and signed by Chief of Logistics Brigadier Eric Nzioki Kitusya, titled ‘Implementation of Pay-As-You-Eat (PAYE) Program’, reads:

"The implementation of the subject program is scheduled to commence on 01 July 2025. In this regard, authority is granted to you to demand for Ration Scale Four (4) for fourteen (14) days with effect from 1st July 2025 for use as seed capital for the program. Your demands to reach this Headquarters not later than 25th June 2025."

The letter further reads: "Please note that it is envisaged the proceeds of the seed capital will form a self-sustaining revolving fund to be administered by the Pay-As-You-Eat Management Committees to oversee operation of the messing facilities."

It adds: "Further, you are advised to utilize the existing messing infrastructure/facilities/amenities to support the Pay-As-You-Eat program. Additional requirements will continue to be considered progressively on a case-by-case basis in the 2025/2026 Financial Year."

Responding to the new changes set to take effect on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence stated: "The decision to transition from the exchequer-funded lunch program for service members to the Pay-As-You-Eat system has been necessitated by the need to streamline budgetary allocation, efficiency in 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."

"The exchequer-funded lunch system has proved non-cost-effective. It does not offer flexibility of time, neither does it provide the convenience of a feeding place, and has been faulted for loss of working hours due to long queues and duplication of ration scales when service members are assigned to different camps,” the ministry added.

Ration cash allowance was introduced into the Kenya Defence Forces in the year 2000, when the provision for other meals, including breakfast and dinner, was discontinued.

The allowance has since undergone several reviews to cushion service members against inflation.