Involvement of the army in civilian duties is not a unique phenomenon in Africa. This study undertakes a document analysis of this phenomenon in Africa in the case of the President Kenyatta's involvement of military officers in the management of municipal service provision in metropolitan Nairobi to reveal the political meanings it engenders between the military and political elites, and society at large. It localises the analysis in Nairobi city where the phenomenon can be understood within the current debates of civilian activation of militarisation and the blurring of boundaries between civilian and military institutions. This furthers the debate as to whether a technologically advanced institution like the military should be left idle in resource poor countries of Africa while citizens continue to suffer from inadequate provision of services.