Fury in the Ranks as KDF Officers Denounce Forced ‘Lunch Savings’ Scheme

A quiet rebellion is brewing within Kenya’s military camps after a new directive ordered the conversion of unused lunch allowances into savings—without consent from the soldiers. The order, issued without consultation, has triggered widespread anger, especially among junior ranks.

In an internal circular, Brigadier Eric Nzioka Kitusya announced that unutilised meal deductions would be channelled into a new revolving mess fund, managed by unit-based committees. The aim, he said, is to make KDF kitchens self-sufficient and less reliant on national government allocations. “This will serve as seed capital for long-term sustainability,” read the memo.

While the Defence Department frames the move as a cost-saving innovation, affected officers see it as an imposed policy that interferes with their pay. “They’ve made financial decisions on our behalf without even informing us,” said one junior officer. “We work in extreme conditions. Now they want to manage our lunch money behind our backs.”

The uproar comes amid broader discontent among civil servants following the implementation of the Pay-As-You-Eat (PAYE) budget measures by the Kenya Kwanza government. Soldiers say the cumulative pressure is unbearable and that the command’s silence is worsening the situation.

Attempts to reach the Kenya Defence Forces spokesperson for official comment have so far been unsuccessful, raising concerns about the transparency of the decision-making process.

As protests simmer internally, the absence of public oversight on the revolving fund’s management is drawing criticism from watchdog groups. With no clear mechanism for soldiers to opt out—or account for the fund’s usage—questions remain on whether the KDF’s financial reforms are reforms at all, or another top-down directive disguised as empowerment.