Dr. Issac Kinity // Photo courtesy
Human rights activist Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity has renewed his call on the Kenyan government to increase the minimum monthly salary of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel to Kshs. 50,000, citing long-standing neglect and worsening welfare conditions within the military.
Dr. Kinity, a Kenyan-born, US-based advocate, said Kenya is not currently at war with any foreign country, and resources being directed towards military hardware should instead go towards ending the suffering of KDF officers and their families.
“The real war is between the government and armless, suffering Kenyans — including members of the KDF. Their current minimum salary of Kshs. 7,172 is an insult to the dignity of those who serve,” said Dr. Kinity.
Kinity further criticised the scrapping of lunch provisions for military personnel, terming the move “awkward and unwarranted,” and urged President William Ruto to immediately reinstate the long-standing provision to ensure soldiers receive adequate nutrition while on duty.
This is not the first time Dr. Kinity has raised concerns over the remuneration and general welfare of KDF officers. In a letter dated 20 June 2025 addressed to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, and copied to the Clerk of the National Assembly and COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Dr. Kinity condemned the government for paying soldiers less than casual workers. He pointed out that Tanzanian soldiers earn the equivalent of Kshs. 53,000 monthly, while Rwanda and Burundi offer better pay than Kenya’s current military wage floor.
“Their wives and children live like beggars. They are fed unbalanced diets in the barracks. This is a national shame hidden behind medals and uniforms,” he wrote in the letter.
Dr. Kinity also lamented that KDF personnel have no platform to demand better conditions, accusing Parliament and COTU of failing to advocate for their rights.
He is calling on the government to prioritise the dignity and welfare of KDF members by addressing their salaries, restoring lunch benefits, and ensuring they are treated with the respect they deserve.
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