KDF officers, the officer exchequer-fund lunch system has been scrapped off from their lunch program. Photo: KDF X.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers will start paying for their own food starting tomorrow Tuesday, July 1, after Kenya Kwanza administration scrapped off the food subsidy on their lunch program.
The new tax will replace the traditional exchequer-funded lunch program, despite silent resistance from a section of officers of lower ranks, who heavily depend on the subsidy initiative for survival.
The letter from Kenya Army Headquarters by Chief of Logistics Brigadier Eric Nzioki Kitusya, dated June 23, reminded the officers about the implementation of the new policy starting Tuesday.
“”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,” read the statement.
Mutisya urged the servicemen and women to support the program by utilizing the mess, as other measures are considered into the new policy outlined in the 2025/2026 financial year.
“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. 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,” he further stated.
The feeding program of the members of the armed force was introduced in 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
The Ministry of Defence further adding that the scrapped off, to account for government resources, as well as provide access to a meal plan for the forces both in the country and outside, further the ministry added that the move is streamline budget allocation by the government.
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,” read the statement from the ministry.
The Soipan Tuya led Ministry further added that the exchequer-fund system did not offer an outline of time frame, additionally, the loss of working hours from long queues and duplication of ration scales facilitated the scrap off.
“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,” read the statement.
