Puzzle over Sh 44 billion budget for Kenya's military

• MPs and economic experts query Uhuru’s huge allocation to Defence at the expense of crucial ministries such as Agriculture, Housing and Tourism

However, that may not be the total sum the nation will spend on the military, analysts say, because of the complex interplay between the presidency (which has a separate and substantial allocation) and the defence department in that country.

Both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have ruled out a military solution to the conflict and emphasised that a diplomatic way out would be reached.

Rwanda, seen as a fast-rising economic star in the region, channelled Sh6 billion to the army, while a fund set up to boost the nation’s competitiveness received the bulk of the allocation. Figures for the Defence budget in Tanzania were not immediately available.

Department of Defence spokesman Bogita Ongeri on Saturday offered a vigorous defence of the huge allocation to the ministry. He dismissed as unfounded criticism that the amount was excessive because Kenya is not at war.

“If Kenya has never been to war, then Kenyans should thank the ministry of Defence. Deterrence is very important,” he said.

He declined to say what the money would be used for but said DOD had presented a justification for the money as part of the budget-making process, winning the extra Sh4 billion which was added to last year’s Sh40 billion allocation.

He also downplayed fears by anti-corruption lobby groups that the Defence budget is open to misappropriation due to the closed tendering procedures.

Tourism minister Najib Balala said that although allocation to his ministry was “not the best” he appreciated the challenges the Treasury faced.

Being a productive sector, he said, more money needed to be put in tourism “but consumer areas like education and health also needed to be considered”.

Mr Balala praised what he termed a “majimbo (federalism) budget,” adding that defence and security could not be compromised.