Koech seeks extra Sh4 billion allocation for Ministry of Defence

National Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Nelson Koech has said that the Ministry of Defence requires an additional Sh4 billion in its budget of Sh200.3 billion for the financial year 2025/26 in order to cater for crucial activities.

Koech told the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, that it was important for the  Ministry of Defence to receive the full Sh204.5 billion required in the coming financial year to carry out critical projects.

He pointed out that Sh2 billion is needed for the recruitment of military officers, Sh1 billion for the maintenance of major assets and equipment, Sh500 million for the KSA Spaceport Project, and Sh500 million for the tooling and equipping of Kenya Shipyard Limited.

“When the Ministry of Defence appeared before my committee, it was clear that there was an urgent need for recruitment of officers so that we can have young servicemen and officers filling the lower ranks of the military. We cannot have those who have served for some time moving to the next level if this is not done,” said Koech.

He noted that since the financial year 2022/23, the Ministry of Defence has continued to experience an increasing trend in pending bills due to exchequer shortfalls, closing the financial year 2023/24 with a pending bill of Sh22.5 billion. Of this amount, Sh18.8 billion has been settled, with the balance of Sh3.7 billion expected to be cleared before the end of the financial year 2024/25.

Koech said that the settlement of pending bills as a first charge in subsequent financial years continues to disrupt the Ministry of Defence’s budgeted programmes and activities, adversely affecting efficiency in the achievement of its mandate.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Budget debate sparks tax concerns
• 
  Koech: Kenya not changing allegiance to China
• 
  Nkaissery: His discipline, authority, enduring legacy and hidden wealth
• 
  Government's budget priorities will leave the country worse off

He explained that the gross deviation in the budget estimates from the Budget Policy Ceilings has affected the National Defence Programme. The recurrent expenditure estimates have increased by Sh2.5 billion for operations and maintenance, while the development budget has been reduced by Sh7.6 billion on loan funding (ECA) for modernisation.

“The Ministry of Defence continues to seek alternative funding (ECA – Export Credit Arrangement) to facilitate its ongoing modernisation programme. Finalised commercial contracts are submitted to the National Treasury for finalisation and signing of financing agreements,” said Koech.

When the Vice Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen John Omenda, appeared before the Koech-led committee two weeks ago to seek additional budgetary allocation, he reinforced the need for increased funding for recruitment. This is necessary to replace officers who have retired or left due to death and other reasons, to ensure the military maintains adequate personnel.

Lt Gen Omenda told the committee that when the military failed to carry out recruitment between 1992–1997 and 1998–2002, a significant personnel gap emerged in the KDF, which negatively affected service delivery. He stressed that such a situation must not be allowed to occur again.

“We urgently need recruitment so that we can have young servicemen and officers filling the lower ranks of the military. Without this, those who have served for some time cannot move to the next level, resulting in several operational gaps,” said Lt Gen Omenda.