Haiti mission gets Sh2.5 billion in supplementary budget

Kenyan taxpayers will fund the country’s peacekeeping mission in Haiti after the government allocated Sh2.5 billion in a supplementary budget presented to the National Assembly.

This comes despite previous assurances that public funds would not be used for the deployment.

The Liaison Committee approved the allocation as part of a larger Sh23 billion increase 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,” the committee’s report reads.

This is the second time the government has sought funds for the mission. Initially, Sh2.1 billion was allocated, with Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi explaining that the money 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.

“So we pay and they refund, but now we have to recognize 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," he added.

Kenya deployed police officers to Haiti in June 2024 to help restore order in the country, where criminal gangs have taken over large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other rural areas.

The Kenyan-led MSS Mission has reclaimed some areas from the armed groups, but operations have faced challenges, with recent clashes leading to more violence.

The security sector was the biggest beneficiary in the budget review, with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) receiving Sh9.8 billion for security-related operations.

The Ministry of Defence was allocated Sh6 billion, primarily to clear pending bills.

Other sectors also saw adjustments, including education, where the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) received funds for insurance shortfalls, teacher promotions, and salaries.

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 fund examination waivers.

The adjustments highlight shifting government spending priorities amid economic challenges.

Last year, the Treasury reported that Sh2.1 billion had been spent on the Haiti mission under Article 223, which allows the government to use funds before parliamentary approval. The use of taxpayer money for the deployment has raised concerns, especially as the cost of living continues to rise.