Kenya’s military is bracing for change. Starting Tuesday, soldiers in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will begin paying for their own lunches, as the government ends a long-standing subsidised meal programme.
The move, outlined in a letter from Army Headquarters, shifts the feeding system to a “Pay-As-You-Eat” model or PAYE requiring officers to cover the full cost of their midday meals. The decision has stirred unease, especially among junior service members who relied on the state-funded initiative to get by.
“This will really hurt the lower ranks,” said one soldier, speaking anonymously out of fear of reprisal. “Not all of us have extra money to spare. The lunch helped keep us going.”
A memo signed by Brigadier Eric Nzioki Kitusya, Chief of Logistics, ordered commanders to implement the PAYE programme beginning 1 July. Units were instructed to claim a two-week ration referred to as Ration Scale Four by 25 June to serve as “seed capital” for the new system.
The money generated from the seed capital will be pooled into a revolving fund, managed by committees within each unit to run the food facilities.
“Please note that it is envisaged the proceeds…will form a self-sustaining revolving fund,” the letter said.
Commanders have been told to use existing kitchens, dining halls and other infrastructure to roll out the plan, though additional support may be offered on a “case-by-case basis” in the next financial year.
In a response to media inquiries, the Ministry of Defence defended the shift, citing a need to improve budget discipline and give soldiers more flexibility.
“The decision…has been necessitated by the need to streamline budgetary allocation, efficiency in use of government resources, [and] facilitating access to a variety of meals that suit individual preferences,” said the ministry in a statement.
It also noted that the subsidised system was no longer cost-effective, pointing to long queues, loss of work hours, and duplication of rations across camps.
Still, critics question the timing and impact, particularly amid wider concerns about inflation and public sector spending cuts.
“This is just the latest sign of belt-tightening,” said a former senior military official who asked not to be named. “But it’s the rank and file who always feel it most.”
The KDF introduced meal allowances in 2000, after scrapping other subsidised meals like breakfast and dinner. The lunch subsidy remained, and has been reviewed periodically to account for rising prices.
Now, with the subsidy gone, many fear this change will hit the most vulnerable officers hardest.
“Not everyone serves near towns with options,” one junior officer said. “Some of us are out in the field. This is not just about money it’s about morale.”
The Ministry has insisted the PAYE system aligns with regional and global military standards. But for those in uniform, the reality will soon be felt on their plates.
