Kenya's national security is in jeopardy due to inadequate funding to sustain security operations on the borders, the National Intelligence Service has warned.
Director General Noordin Haji on Monday, May 12, raised concern about security on the country's borders, as he claimed agencies had to make do with outdated equipment due to chronic underfunding.
Haji made the revelations while speaking before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, where he compared Kenya's situation to neighbouring countries, who he believes are better poised to deal with security threats.
"If you look at Uganda, you have the Karamojong and other communities crossing into Kenya for cattle rustling. They’ve even encroached on some of our land,” Haji observed.
He added, “In South Sudan, there’s the unchecked flow of small arms. In Ethiopia, the Oromo Liberation Army is occupying some of our territory. Our forces are trying to respond, but when you consider the kind of equipment we have, it’s really wanting.”
Haji further emphasised that there needed to be adequate funding to effectively execute their defence, intelligence, and national security responsibilities.
In a rare show of vulnerability, Haji went to the lengths of showing willingness to share the agency's financial details to highlight the gravity of funding deficits.
According to the NIS boss, the agency was allocated Ksh51 billion in the 2024/2025 financial year - a figure which was Ksh14 billion less than what NIS requested.
During the meeting chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, the committee also heard that some military units had gone a decade without any upgrades in terms of receiving essential equipment.
Haji went a step further by openly challenging the government to exhibit 'seriousness in handling matters of national security', saying, “We must ask ourselves whether we are genuinely committed to giving Kenyans the security they deserve."
While quoting figures, Haji said the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise would need at least Ksh2 billion, while an estimated Ksh2 million is needed for the nine-month training of each recruit.
After airing their grievances, the NIS, which acts as the government's eyes and ears on the domestic and international fronts, will have to wait for the parliamentary committee to deliberate further on the proposed budget of the upcoming fiscal year before any recommendations are made.
