Democratic Action Party (DAP–K) leader Eugene Wamalwa has accused the government of neglecting the welfare of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel while splurging billions on what he described as unnecessary projects and military hardware.
Speaking during a local radio interview on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the former Defence Cabinet Secretary criticised the government for failing to provide basic necessities for soldiers, including meals, even as it spends heavily on new aircraft and other high-end equipment.
“Our military is among the most professional in the region, but like an arrow, it must be constantly sharpened. We must invest in better training and equipment,” Wamalwa said. “However, when soldiers are being denied lunch, we are facing a real crisis.”
Wamalwa decried the contradiction of spending over Ksh70 billion on new fighter jets while active-duty personnel reportedly struggle with food shortages.
“It’s the first time we’re seeing a ‘pay-as-you-eat’ policy in the military. The same soldier risking his life in Kismayu to keep us safe is now being told, ‘As you fight, feed yourself.’ It’s unacceptable,” he lamented.
His remarks follow recent allegations by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who claimed that President William Ruto’s administration sent a delegation to Vietnam to acquire two executive jets and eight helicopters at an estimated cost of Ksh70 billion.
Speaking earlier on October 12, 2025, during a church service in Kirinyaga County, Gachagua accused the government of reckless spending while critical sectors like education, healthcare, and social protection remain underfunded.
“Officers from the military and the Office of the President have been dispatched to Vietnam to buy jets and helicopters worth over 70 billion shillings,” Gachagua alleged. “Meanwhile, hospitals have no medicine, and children are home because of unpaid capitation.”
Wamalwa echoed these sentiments, saying the government’s current spending patterns reflect cosmetic empowerment schemes rather than genuine development efforts.
“You bring 10,000 teachers, spend Ksh100 million, and give each Ksh10,000 and then call that empowerment? That’s not empowerment; it’s political showmanship,” he argued.
He further accused the administration of abandoning essential sectors while funnelling public funds into politically motivated projects and handouts.
“You can’t claim there’s no money for education or health while billions are being spent on luxury jets and publicity stunts. These are misplaced priorities,” Wamalwa said.
The DAP–K leader called on the government to reassess its budgetary priorities, ensuring that the needs of frontline officers and ordinary citizens take precedence over political optics and unnecessary expenditures.
