KDF to Scrap 25-Year Lunch Subsidy for Soldiers, Introduces Pay-As-You-Eat System

Last Updated on January 27, 2025 by NewsTurkana

The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) is preparing for a significant shift in its lunch program.

Effective July 1, 2025, the Ministry of Defense will replace the current government-funded lunch subsidy with a new pay-as-you-eat system.

In a memo dated January 17, 2025, Major General Mohamed Nur Hassan revealed that a special committee had been assigned to review the existing lunch subsidy program. Their findings, presented to the Service Commanders Committee—comprising leaders from the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, and Kenya Navy—highlighted inefficiencies in the current system and recommended the transition to a pay-as-you-eat model during a meeting held on October 29, 2024.

The committee noted that the government-funded lunch program was costly, lacked sufficient meal variety, and caused long queues that disrupted operations. These challenges made the system ineffective in meeting the needs of KDF personnel.

Under the new plan, soldiers will pay for their meals using cashless methods like M-PESA, with the payment system set to be in place by March 31, 2025. This rollout is designed to improve accountability, efficiency, and convenience.

The Ministry of Defense anticipates several benefits from this change. It expects to enhance meal quality, reduce waiting times, and save the government between Sh2 billion and Sh3 billion annually. The funds saved will be redirected toward upgrading military dining facilities and improving the overall dining experience for service members.

However, not everyone is convinced. Junior officers, in particular, have raised concerns about the financial burden of paying for their meals out-of-pocket, especially since many already rely on the ration cash allowance introduced in 2000 to offset rising costs.

Despite the pushback, the Ministry defends the move as necessary for flexibility and efficiency. The new system will allow soldiers to choose from a wider range of meal options, addressing a key limitation of the current program.

As the July 2025 deadline approaches, KDF leadership faces the challenge of addressing these concerns and ensuring a smooth transition for all service members. While the change is positioned as a step forward, its success will depend on how well soldiers adapt and how effectively the system meets their needs.