Kenyan taxpayers to foot Sh2.5 billion for Haiti mission in latest budget review
Last year, the Treasury disclosed that the Kenyan government had spent Sh2.1 billion on the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
The government has allocated additional funds for Kenya’s peacekeeping mission in Haiti, despite earlier assurances that taxpayers would not bear the cost.
In the latest supplementary budget presented to the National Assembly, Sh2.5 billion has been set aside for the mission as part of a larger Sh23 billion allocation to the security sector.
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The Liaison Committee approved the request as part of a broader Sh23 billion allocation to the security sector.
“The security sector has been allocated an additional Sh7.5 billion to the National Police Service, of which Sh5 billion is to address shortfalls in insurance costs and Sh2.5 billion to support the Haiti peacekeeping mission,” reads part of the committee’s report.
This marks the second time the government is seeking funds for the Haiti mission. Initially, it had requested Sh2.1 billion, with Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi explaining that the amount would be reimbursed by the United Nations.
“This money we are spending on behalf of the UN. We are the ones making the payment, so the money comes from our exchequer because these are our officers,” Mbadi said when questioned about the expenditure.
“So we pay and they refund, but now we have to recognise the expenditure because it was not in the budget. The law says two months should not elapse, and when we do supplementary budgeting, we will reflect it as both income and expenditure.”
The security sector emerged as the biggest beneficiary in the supplementary budget, with additional allocations to other key agencies. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) was allocated Sh9.8 billion for security-related operations, while the Ministry of Defence received an additional Sh6 billion, primarily to settle pending bills.
The education sector also gained significantly, with the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) receiving funds to address insurance shortfalls, teacher promotions, and personnel emoluments. The State Department for Basic Education was allocated Sh6.5 billion under the World Bank-supported Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Program. Additionally, Sh5.26 billion was reallocated from secondary school capitation to cater for examination waivers.
Spending priorities
The proposed budget adjustments highlight the government’s evolving spending priorities amid competing financial demands, with security and education emerging as key areas of focus.
Last year, the Treasury disclosed that the Kenyan government had spent Sh2.1 billion on the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti.
A letter from the Treasury to the National Assembly detailed that a total of Sh17.6 billion was spent under Article 223, which permits the government to make expenditures without prior parliamentary approval.
Of this amount, Sh2 billion was allocated to Kenya’s peacekeeping efforts in Haiti, contradicting earlier assurances that taxpayer funds would not be used for the mission.
The disbursement, made on September 18, raised concerns over the sustainability and adequacy of funding for the deployment.
In response to the concerns, CS Mbadi reiterated that while the funds were initially drawn from Kenya’s exchequer, they would eventually be reimbursed by the United Nations.
“This money we are spending on behalf of the UN, we are the ones making the payment so the money comes from our exchequer because these are our officers,” Mbadi said.
“So we pay and they refund, but now we have to recognise the expenditure because it was not in the budget. The law says two months should not elapse, and when we do supplementary budgeting, we will reflect it as both income and expenditure.”
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