NAIROBI, Kenya -The Government is seeking an additional Sh2.5 billion to fund Kenya’s peacekeeping mission in Haiti, as outlined in the latest supplementary budget currently before the National Assembly.
The Liaison Committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei has approved the request as part of the Ksh. 23 billion allocated to the security sector.
According to the committee’s report, the National Police Service (NPS) will receive an additional Ksh. 7.5 billionof which Ksh. 5 billion is earmarked for insurance shortfalls, while Ksh. 2.5 billion will go toward supporting the Haiti mission.
“The security sector has been allocated an additional Ksh. 7.5 billion to the National Police Service, of which Ksh. 5 billion will address shortfalls in insurance costs, and Ksh. 2.5 billion will support the Haiti peacekeeping mission,” the report states.
Despite repeated government assurances that Kenya’s deployment to Haiti would not burden taxpayers, this marks the second time funds have been requested for the mission.
Previously, the government sought Ksh. 2.1 billion, with Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u explaining that the United Nations (UN) would reimburse the expenditure.
“This money is being spent on behalf of the UN. We are making the payments because these are our officers, so the money comes from our exchequer,” Ndung’u previously stated.
He further explained that although Kenya is covering the costs upfront, legal provisions require the expenditure to be formally recorded in the budget.
“We pay, and they refund, but we must recognize the expenditure since it was not initially budgeted for. The law mandates that two months should not pass without reflecting the cost. During supplementary budgeting, we account for it as both income and expenditure,” National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi stated.
The security sector remains the largest beneficiary of the supplementary budget, with both the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Ministry of Defence receiving substantial allocations.
“The National Intelligence Service has been allocated an additional Ksh. 9.8 billion for security-related operations, while the Ministry of Defence has been granted an additional Ksh. 6 billion, primarily to settle pending bills,” the supplementary budget report states.
Meanwhile,the education sector has also received a significant boost.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been allocated additional funds to cover insurance shortfalls, teacher promotions, and personnel emoluments.
Additionally, the State Department for Basic Education has secured Ksh. 6.5 billion under the World Bank-funded Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Program.
Meanwhile, Ksh. 5.26 billion has been reallocated from secondary school capitation to cover examination waivers.
