According to reports, the government approved an expenditure of Sh181 million in September to support the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti.
According to the budget implementation review report for the first quarter of 2024-25, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakan’go approved expenditures of Sh181,079,483 on September 19, 2024.
According to the report, the sum was marginally lower by Sh17,482 than what the Treasury Cabinet Secretary first allowed.
The clearance was granted under Article 223 of the constitution, which allows Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to request additional funding during the budget implementation period.
The permission, given in relation to the National Police Service, was for 0.02% of the net budget expectations, staying well within the constitutional 10% ceiling.
The expense contradicts the government’s previous claim that no taxpayer monies were used for the MSS mission.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has issued clarifications regarding the contradiction.
According to Sing’oei, the United Nations was funding the operation’s expenditures.
“It is completely untrue that the current deployment of our police is being underwritten by our exchequer. The actual position is that this deployment is being underwritten by the United Nations,” the PS said.
He indicated that the UN provided appropriate funding for the exercise.It is unclear whether the permitted amount is part of the Sh17.6 billion that the government has spent in accordance with Article 223.
According to documents filed in Parliament, Sh2.1 billion has been budgeted for Kenya’s peacekeeping involvement in Haiti.
The monies have been approved just as the third batch of 600 cops prepares to travel for Haiti.
The cops, who had previously completed their training, were supposed to leave on November 28 but were postponed due to logistical concerns.
Gangs dominate large parts of the Caribbean country, including an estimated 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
