Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya.
The new pay-as-you-eat system implemented this year by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will not affect all soldiers, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has clarified to a parliamentary committee.
Appearing before the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee, Ms Tuya told the lawmakers that soldiers in peace missions, operations areas and those in training will not be affected by the new policy.
According to the CS, the new policy will only affect soldiers in the barracks.
KDF parade at Masinde Muliro stadium in Bungoma County on June 1, 2024, waiting to be inspected by President William Ruto during Madaraka Day celebrations.
“There have been murmurs out there and some have even used this matter politically. Take this opportunity to address this matter,” said the committee Chairman Nelson Koech.
Asked by the lawmakers whether the change of policy was subjected to public participation as required by law, Ms Tuya said all the affected stakeholders were involved internally before the policy was implemented.
The committee wants a report of the public participation that was done by the ministry to confirm whether stakeholders-soldiers- endorsed it as claimed by the Cabinet secretary.
“The pay-as-you-eat is a policy by the ministry, it is not new. It has been there. It is the substitution of free lunch that has been done internally. Public participation was sufficiently done internally,” Ms Tuya said.
The matter was raised by Kajiado Central MP Memusi Kanchori, who sought clarification from the ministry, pointing out that there have been murmurs over the new policy.
“How is it being done? Is it affecting our soldiers' morale?” Mr Kanchori asked.
Ms Tuya denied that the policy will affect the morale of soldiers saying it is a win for members of the disciplined forces as those affected have seen their allowances increased.
“It does not affect the morale of our soldiers. It only affects those in peaceful areas. The personnel in hostile areas, peace operations and those in training continue to enjoy the package,” Ms Tuya said.
In the new system, soldiers are required to pay for their meals, either through cash payments or deductions from their salaries.
The change of policy, which took effect on July 1st, aims to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance cost-effectiveness in military food services.
The allowance, ration cash allowance, was conferred to the military personnel in 2000 after the scrapping of the breakfast and dinner. KDF officers started paying for their lunch at the beginning of this month following the end of the subsidy programme on June 30.
KDF personnel outside Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on November 21, 2024 where President William Ruto delivered the State of the Nation address.
Commanders have also been instructed to leverage existing messaging infrastructure to support the new programme, with any further needs to be addressed progressively into the 2025/26 financial year.
A directive from the Kenya Army headquarters, dated June 23 and signed by Chief of Logistics, Brigadier Eric Nzioki Kitusya, officially outlined the implementation plan. The letter, titled "Implementation of Pay-as-you-eat (Paye) Programme",
“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 (four) for fourteen (14) days with effect from July 1, 2025, for use as seed capital for the programme. Your demands to reach this Headquarters not later than June 25, 2025.”
The directive further clarified that the funds generated from the 14-day ration demand would be used to establish a revolving fund to sustain the new meal system.
“Please note that it is envisaged that 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 the operation of the messing facilities,” reads the letter.
Military units have been instructed to utilise their existing kitchens and dining facilities for the implementation.
