The Department of Defence has notified members of the Kenya Defence Forces that any unused lunch money deducted from their salaries will be converted into savings.
The directive, which has stirred growing resentment within the ranks, comes amid growing discontent over the government's Pay-As-You-Eat (PAYE) policy, a move that junior officers say exposes their commanders' failure to shield them from the burden of Kenya Kwanza's austerity reforms.
In a directive seen by The Standard, Brigadier Eric Nzioka Kitusya referred to the withheld funds as "seed capital" for a revolving mess fund to be managed by PAYE committees at every unit, base and formation.
He said the fund aims to make military kitchens self-reliant and independent of state support. "Please note that it is envisaged the proceeds of the seed capital will form a self-sustaining revolving fund," Kitusya wrote. "It will be administered by PAYE management committees established at FMN/Base/Unit levels to oversee operation of the messing facilities." But to those on the receiving end, it feels like a trap disguised as reform, a scheme where KDF personnel are being forced by the President William Ruto administration to save.
