Security agencies get more cash to fight Al-Shabaab

What you need to know:

  • Over the last six months, more than 200 Kenyans have been killed in terror attacks. They include the 142 students slaughtered by the militants at Garissa University College, on April 2.
  • Insecurity is the biggest headache facing the government, particularly the threat posed by Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
  • The minister’s report also says new police stations will be set up and the existing ones refurbished. Police patrols will increase and more security officers will be recruited.

More money will be given to security agencies to bolster the war against rampant insecurity.

In the 2015/16 fiscal year, some Sh200 billion has been allocated to the various agencies, with the Kenya Defence Forces, getting a massive Sh13.6 billion more.
The National Intelligence Service got an additional Sh2.7 billion this year.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich generally increased cash to security agencies over was given out the previous year.

“The Ministry of Interior and National Coordination, which handles the Police, has been allocated Sh102.5 billion in 2015/16, up from Sh92.9 billion in 2014/15,” a report by the minister says.

The additional funds will be used to modernise the defence force, the intelligence service and the police.

“The government has prioritised the security sector following recent incidents of insecurity and terrorism in the country. Arising from this, the sector will be receiving increased allocation of resources so as to modernise both the military and the police to enhance their capacities to tackle crime,” Mr Rotich said.

Insecurity is the biggest headache facing the government, particularly the threat posed by Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab.

Over the last six months, more than 200 Kenyans have been killed in terror attacks. They include the 142 students slaughtered by the militants at Garissa University College, on April 2.

About Sh15 billion and Sh10 billion will be spent on modernising the military and the police, respectively. This will involve setting up a forensic laboratory for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

Another Sh6.4 billion will be spent on the African Union Mission in Somalia. Over 4,000 Kenyan troops are in the southern part of the war-torn country to fight Al-Shabaab terrorists.
Other funds will be used on the war against poachers (Sh1.4 billion), police housing (Sh1.3 billion) and a police medical scheme (Sh1.7 billion).

The increased spending on security agencies started in 2011, after the military’s incursion into Somalia to fight Al-Shabaab.

To boost the campaign against insecurity, the government installed 600 CCTV cameras in Nairobi and Mombasa in the just-ended financial year. This project was carried out in partnership with the county governments. The surveillance cameras are linked to the central Command and Control Centre at Jogoo House, the National Police Service headquarters in Nairobi.

PATROL BASES

Another 12 patrol bases were established along the international borders.

The minister’s report also says new police stations will be set up and the existing ones refurbished. Police patrols will increase and more security officers will be recruited.

The report says while the intelligence service is at the forefront of pre-empting threats, it’s facing new challenges hence increased funding.

The report adds: “During the period under review, the service fulfilled its mandate by providing actionable intelligence and counter intelligence that added value to the decision making processes by the government.

“Despite the achievements, the service faced various challenges including rapid changes in technology, terrorism, socio-political and economic instability in the country and region,” the report concludes.