Kenya’s security at risk as regional instability grows, warns NIS boss
NIS Director General Noordin Haji told MPs that the Kenya Defence Forces have not upgraded their military equipment in over 10 years, making it difficult to counter fast-evolving threats.
Kenya is facing serious security threats from almost all its neighbours, with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) raising the alarm over outdated military equipment and growing regional instability.
NIS Director General Noordin Haji delivered a grim assessment of the country’s security situation during a presentation to the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations.
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Haji warned that Kenya is surrounded by rising threats from four out of five bordering countries, exposing the country to increasing danger.
He told MPs on Monday that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have not upgraded their military equipment in over 10 years, making it difficult to counter fast-evolving threats.
“Just like the way you change your [smartphones], it is the same with equipment. Whatever equipment we buy, they become obsolete or require upgrading,” Haji said.
He said that along the Uganda border, Karamajong warriors have been pushing into Kenyan territory while engaging in cattle rustling.
Meanwhile, the South Sudan border is overwhelmed by the spread of small arms, and along the Ethiopian border, the Oromo Liberation Army, allegedly working with Al-Shabaab, has seized parts of Kenyan land.
The Somalia border remains a constant source of threat, with Al-Shabaab militants still active.
Haji said the situation could get worse if instability in Ethiopia and South Sudan escalates.
“We are currently facing threats from nearly every neighbouring country save for Tanzania,” he said.
He also pointed to the conflict in Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces as a further complication.
Haji said Kenya must invest more in defence. “The current security threat that we are facing is serious. Without security, you cannot enjoy the freedom that you are enjoying,” he said.
The NIS is seeking Sh33.5 billion to improve its capacity, including Sh10 billion for a new surveillance system featuring unmanned aerial vehicles and improved ground surveillance, Sh15 billion to modernise the intelligence system, and Sh8.3 billion for research and development.
Haji said the agency is focusing on building local capacity, with about 70 percent of its equipment now sourced locally.
“We have attained about 70 per cent of local content because we want to have our own solutions,” he told the committee.
But the budget picture is bleak. Haji revealed that the NIS budget was slashed from Sh65.6 billion to Sh51.47 billion in the latest budget proposal, a cut of Sh14 billion.
He urged legislators to prioritise national security, warning that external conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Yemen are introducing new challenges for Kenya.
“There is no amount of money that can absolutely ensure Kenya’s safety. It is sad that we do not see the need to appreciate where we are, and we go out politicising everything. We are not going to overcome whatever we are facing,” Haji added.
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