Kenya Defense Forces (inset) Dr. Isaac Kinitty //Photo courtesy
Human rights advocate Dr. Isaac Kinitty has strongly criticized the Kenyan government’s recent decision to terminate the lunch subsidy for Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel, calling it an unjust move that worsens the already poor conditions of soldiers.
According to Dr. Kinity, Kenyan military officers, particularly recruits and privates, are among the lowest-paid government employees, earning as little as Ksh. 7,172 ($72) per month for recruits and Ksh. 19,941 ($199) per month for privates. Despite these low wages, they have now been stripped of the free lunches they have been receiving for decades.
Kinity attributes this situation to rampant corruption within the government, which he says has led to mismanagement of funds while essential services, such as military welfare, suffer. He notes that the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakango, has repeatedly warned about the massive looting of public funds, yet little action has been taken to curb the trend.
“It is outrageous to see Kenyan legislators loot loans, grants and taxpayer money to buy luxury watches and belts worth millions, while soldiers, who protect the country, struggle to survive on meager wages,” He stated.
His comments come after reports surfaced of government officials living extravagantly while ordinary Kenyans face economic hardships. A recent case involved Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, who was seen wearing a Ksh. 17 million ($133,000) watch, sparking public outrage.
The former trade unionist has called on the government to reinstate the lunch subsidy, arguing that there is no valid justification for depriving soldiers of a benefit they have had since colonial times.
“Do not punish the Kenya Army for no reason at all. They deserve better,” he said. “Reinstate the lunches because there are no convincing reasons to deprive them of their meals.”
The decision to cut the lunch program has raised concerns about the morale and well-being of military personnel and it remains unclear whether the government will reconsider its stance.
Meanwhile, frustration continues to grow among Kenyans who see the move as yet another example of misplaced priorities in government spending.
Dr. Kinity’s sentiments come in the wake of public criticism against the plan which many say will negatively affect the military.
The Ministry of Defense in a memo earlier this week is planning to terminate the decades long lunch subsidy programme for the Kenya Defense Forces from first July this year.
The memo signed by Major General Mohammed Nur Hassan,noted that the changes to the ‘pay as you eat’ plan had been necessitated by the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the subsidy programme.
The new directive which has reportedly caused anxiety among the officers of the disciplined forces in the country has directed the abolishment of the exchequer-funded lunch subsidy programme by the end of the current financial year and usher in the new pay-as-you-eat system by July 1, 2025.
“The system is to be deployed no later than March 31, 2025, to facilitate meal bookings and payments, ensuring accountability and efficiency… Note that the PAYE system is scheduled to be operational on July 1, 2025,” the communique states.
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