MPs Approve Additional Ksh 10B for NIS, Ksh 24B for Defence Amid Rising Border Security Threats

MPs Approve Additional Ksh 10B for NIS, Ksh 24B for Defence Amid Rising Border Security Threats

Kenya’s National Assembly of Kenya has approved a significant increase in security spending, allocating an additional Ksh45 billion to key agencies amid growing concerns over regional instability and emerging security threats along the country’s borders.

The funding boost, passed on Thursday through Supplementary Estimates I for the 2025/26 financial year, follows the adoption of a report by the Budget and Appropriations Committee. The allocations target the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Ministry of Defence, and the National Police Service.

The Ministry of Defence received the largest share of the additional funding, with Ksh24.4 billion added to its existing Ksh202.3 billion budget. Officials indicated that the funds would support salary adjustments and bolster defence capabilities as Kenya responds to evolving regional security dynamics.

“The additional allocation is primarily for salary adjustments and strengthening defence capabilities,” the committee report stated.

The National Intelligence Service was allocated an extra Ksh10 billion to enhance intelligence-gathering capacity, particularly in light of increasing threats linked to instability in neighbouring countries. Lawmakers noted that intelligence operations are critical in preventing attacks and safeguarding national interests.

Meanwhile, the National Police Service received Ksh7.5 billion to address operational requirements, including Ksh2 billion earmarked to cover deficits in group life and medical insurance for officers and their dependants. An additional Ksh3 billion was approved for personnel emoluments and internal security operations.

The funding increase comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the region, particularly in the Horn of Africa. Recent developments in Sudan have raised alarm, with the Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs accusing Ethiopia of involvement in drone strikes targeting Sudanese cities—claims that Addis Ababa has denied.

“The Government of Sudan has been monitoring throughout February and the beginning of March the entry of drones from within Ethiopian territory targeting locations inside Sudan,” Khartoum stated, warning of potential retaliation.

Security analysts caution that any escalation involving additional regional actors could have direct implications for Kenya, including increased refugee flows and heightened risk of cross-border threats.

The revised supplementary budget raises Kenya’s total expenditure to Ksh4.66 trillion, representing an 8.6 percent increase from the original budget approved in June 2024. The figure is also Ksh363.9 billion higher than initial projections presented by the Treasury earlier this year.

The additional allocations were authorised under Article 223 of the Constitution of Kenya, which permits the executive to incur expenditure on urgent and unforeseen needs, subject to parliamentary approval.

Recent security operations have underscored the urgency of increased funding. In February, joint efforts by the NIS and elite Special Operations Group (SOG) successfully thwarted a major terror plot in Nairobi ahead of the Ramadan period. Authorities recovered five AK-47 rifles, 600 rounds of ammunition, six hand grenades, and a Makarov pistol during the operation.

In a separate incident the same month, SOG operatives intercepted suspected Al-Shabaab militants attempting to plant explosives along the Alungu-Elwak road. Two militants were killed in the ensuing firefight, and security forces recovered an improvised explosive device and an RPG warhead.

“These allocations are necessary to ensure our security agencies remain adequately equipped to respond to emerging threats,” a lawmaker involved in the budget process said.

Observers note that the increased funding reflects a strategic shift toward strengthening Kenya’s security infrastructure amid a rapidly changing regional landscape.

As Parliament backs expanded resources for defence and intelligence, attention will now turn to how effectively the funds are deployed to address both immediate and long-term security challenges facing the country.

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MPs Approve Additional Ksh 10B for NIS, Ksh 24B for Defence Amid Rising Border Security Threats