Controversial Policy in Kenya Defence Forces: Unhappy Soldiers and a Revolving Mess Fund
Department of Defense Compels KDF Officers to Retain Unspent Cafeteria Funds
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are currently grappling with a new policy that has been met with widespread resentment. The Department of Defence, in a move aimed at making military kitchens self-reliant, has implemented a policy to convert unused lunch money deducted from soldiers' salaries into savings.
Effective from July 1, lunch money is now deducted directly from salaries, regardless of whether a soldier eats or not. The meals must be booked through a digital system managed by the Defence Savings and Credit Co-operatives Society (DESACCO) [1][3]. Half of the deducted money is locked into the meal app and cannot be accessed until the end of the month.
The unused funds are intended to form a "seed capital" for a revolving mess fund, aiming to make military kitchens self-sufficient and independent of state support [1]. However, the policy has been imposed without consultation, leading to a sense of disempowerment among the KDF personnel.
Many soldiers argue that the move amounts to forcing them to save against their will. Some view it as a trap disguised as reform, while others see it as a form of coercion. The policy has led to widespread discontent, with mess halls experiencing significant declines in usage as soldiers boycott the system.
The long-standing tradition of subsidized mess meals has been scrapped, which many see as a withdrawal of a non-negotiable benefit. The dissatisfaction is widespread across barracks in Eldoret, Lang'ata, and Laikipia, with some characterizing it as "daylight robbery" [1][3].
Junior officers believe the directive exposes their commanders' failure to shield them from the burden of Kenya Kwanza's austerity reforms. The meal cash allowance is now being paid through DESACCO to deter soldiers from taking loans, but this measure has not been well-received.
The enforcement of the policy has been described as near-military rigidity, adding to the soldiers' frustration. The policy comes amid growing discontent over the government's Pay-As-You-Eat (PAYE) policy, further fuelling the resentment among KDF personnel.
In response to this growing unrest, the KDF has yet to issue a formal statement addressing the concerns of its personnel. The future of this policy remains uncertain, with many hoping for a reconsideration of this decision that has left many soldiers feeling disenfranchised.
[1] KTN News. (2022, July 15). KDF soldiers to save half of their lunch money in new policy. Retrieved from https://www.ktnnews.com/news/ktn-national-news/2022-07-15-kdf-soldiers-to-save-half-of-their-lunch-money-in-new-policy/
[3] Standard Digital. (2022, July 15). KDF soldiers protest new policy that sees them save half of their lunch money. Retrieved from https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001462664/kdf-soldiers-protest-new-policy-that-sees-them-save-half-of-their-lunch-money
- The controversial policy implemented in the Kenya Defence Forces is not limited to their meals, as it also involves the pooling of saved funds into a revolving mess fund, which is a business strategy aimed at making military kitchens self-sufficient.
- Similarly, the Kenyan government's Pay-As-You-Eat (PAYE) policy and the new policy in the KDF, both aiming to reduce costs, can be seen as aspects of the larger political and economic landscape, with finance and business playing significant roles.
- The health and well-being of Kenyan soldiers are also affected by these policies, as the boycott of the digital meal system and the dissatisfaction with the new policy have led to concerns about the quality and availability of meals for soldiers, potentially impacting their physical health and morale.
