(Nairobi) – Kenya’s National Treasury seeks parliamentary approval for an additional KSh 17.7 billion in funding to support various programs, including a Kenya-led UN-backed security mission in Haiti.
Kenya’s National Treasury has requested Parliament to approve an additional KSh 17.7 billion to finance several programs, including the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti, spearheaded by Kenyan police forces. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi revealed that KSh 2.16 billion from this supplementary budget would be allocated to the Haiti mission, with KSh 181.09 million already disbursed to the National Police Service for operations in the gang-ridden Caribbean nation.
Kenya had earlier deployed 1,000 police officers to Haiti and pledged to send an additional 600 officers in October 2024. The MSSM was sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council under Resolution 2699, adopted on October 2, 2023.
The United States has contributed KSh 14.1 billion to equip the Kenyan-led security team in Haiti, while Kenya estimates it needs KSh 36 billion annually to maintain the mission.
Treasury also seeks approval for Sh807.5 million to settle Kenya Electronic System for Travel Authorization fees and KSh 78 billion for the State Department for Energy. This includes Sh190 million for the Kenya-Tanzania power interconnections, Sh405 million for electrification under the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and KSh 2.2 billion for Olkaria 1 and IV, funded by the European Investment Bank.
Another KSh 2.3 billion is earmarked for the East Africa Regional Statistics Program for Results, KSh 756 million for the Kenya Cereal Enhancement Program, and Sh2 billion for drought interventions by the State Department for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.
The law under Article 223 of the Constitution and Section 44 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, permits the government to spend unbudgeted amounts, provided parliamentary approval is sought within two months. Mbadi emphasized that the funding request recognizes unforeseen expenditures, particularly in security and infrastructure projects.
The additional allocations cover diverse programs, including Sh3.2 billion for the South Sudan-Eastern Africa Transport and Trade Facilitation Project and Sh1.4 billion for rural electrification under the Agency Francoise Development (AfD).
Kenya’s engagement in Haiti followed an agreement signed by President William Ruto and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henri in Nairobi. Mbadi clarified that while Kenya covers the initial costs, the UN is expected to refund the expenses. “We pay, and they refund. However, this needs recognition in the supplementary budget as income and expenditure,” he explained.