NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Treasury has allocated an additional Sh6.3 billion to strengthen Kenya’s controversial security mission in Haiti and enhance investigative capabilities at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), reflecting a significant budgetary shift in the country’s policing priorities.
The latest supplementary budget report reveals that the total budget for the National Police Service (NPS) for the fiscal year ending June 2025 has now increased from Sh108.68 billion to Sh114.97 billion, with much of the new funding directed towards international operations and forensic system upgrades.
A large portion of the additional allocation is expected to support Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti, who have faced uncertainty over funding in recent months.
Kenya dispatched officers to the Caribbean nation last year to lead the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, aimed at restoring order in areas controlled by heavily armed criminal gangs.
Despite reported progress in reclaiming gang-held territories, the mission has been marred by operational challenges, culminating in the death of 26-year-old police constable Samuel Kitwai this week—Kenya’s first casualty in the operation.
Concerns over funding for the Haiti deployment first surfaced in late November 2024, raising fears that financial constraints could disrupt operations.
In response, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi assured that an additional Sh2.16 billion had been approved, with Sh181.09 million already disbursed to the NPS for the mission.
The budgetary revisions also show a mixed financial impact across different police units.
While general administration and support services received a Sh7.46 billion increase—raising its total funding to Sh14.4 billion—both the Kenya Police and Administration Police saw budget cuts of Sh949.9 million and Sh1 billion, respectively.
Conversely, the criminal investigations unit benefited from an additional Sh732.7 million, bringing its total allocation to Sh9.87 billion.
This funding is expected to go toward maintaining and upgrading security systems under the DCI, which has been pushing for advanced forensic tools to tackle rising crime rates.
The latest funding decisions underscore the government’s shifting focus toward international security commitments and intelligence-led policing.
However, they may also fuel ongoing debates over police funding priorities, especially as Kenya grapples with internal security challenges, including rising crime and allegations of police corruption.
The Treasury acknowledged that some budget changes stem from fund reallocation within the security sector, though it did not disclose specific details.
