Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel will begin paying for their meals starting Tuesday, July 1, following the full implementation of the new Pay-As-You-Eat (PAYE) system.
The new structure brings to an end the exchequer-funded lunch program, a shift that has sparked concern among lower-ranking officers who have relied on subsidised meals to manage daily expenses.
According to a letter from the Kenya Army Headquarters dated June 23 and signed by Chief of Logistics Brigadier Eric Nzioki Kitusya, the transition is set to begin immediately at the start of the new month.
“The implementation of the subject program is scheduled to commence on 01 July 2025,” the letter reads.
“To this end, 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 document outlines that proceeds from the initial seed capital will establish a revolving fund, managed by newly formed Pay-As-You-Eat Management Committees. These committees will oversee the daily operations of mess facilities under the new system.
The letter also directs units to use their current kitchens, dining halls, and related infrastructure to support the PAYE program. Requests for additional facilities will be evaluated progressively during the 2025/2026 financial year.
In a statement justifying the changes, the Ministry of Defence cited budgetary efficiency, improved service delivery, and alignment with global military standards.
“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, ensure efficient use of government resources, facilitate access to a variety of meals that suit individual preferences, and align to best military practices both regionally and internationally,” the ministry stated.
It further noted that the existing lunch system was cost-inefficient, limited in meal variety and timing, and contributed to lost man-hours due to long queues and logistical challenges, especially when troops were relocated to different camps.
The PAYE system comes more than two decades after the KDF introduced ration cash allowances in the year 2000. At the time, the military scrapped other government-provided meals such as breakfast and dinner.
The allowances have undergone several adjustments over the years in an effort to shield service members from the rising cost of living.
