Police receive Sh26.1b for the next financial spending year

By CYRUS OMBATI and ROSELYN OBALA

Kenya: The National Police Service has been allocated Sh26.1 billion in the 2014/2015 financial year to help boost security around the country.

In the current financial year ending this month, the force was allocated Sh67 billion.

Of the estimates, Sh6.7 billion will be used on lease financing of police motor vehicles and aircraft, Sh3.3 billion on enhanced security operations and Sh2.9 on recruitment of 10,000 regular and Administration police officers.

According to the estimates presented by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, Sh3.5 billion will be used to purchase police equipment, Sh1.6  billion on a police medical insurance scheme that is slated for roll out in July, and Sh1.8 billion on a control and command centre, which is now operational.

“Security is necessary for encouraging investment, accelerating economic growth and creating more jobs for our youth,” reads part of the estimates.

Another Sh1.3 billion has been allocated for police houses and Sh1.8 billion for anti-poaching activities. In the security clause, there is an allocation of Sh6.1 billion for Amisom. It is not clear what the money is for given that Amisom is under the UN although it is indicated as a grant.

The plan to hire vehicles is a strategy by the Government to modernise the service and enable them deliver service to the public.

The Police Air Wing is almost grounded, as it now has only one operating helicopter.

Police had placed tenders for the total overhaul of the Russian-made MI-17 helicopters and also for the purchase of an additional chopper. The bids were presented to the Technical Evaluation Committee for evaluation.

“They were forwarded to the Ministerial Tender Committee at the Office of the President through the police headquarters but nothing has happened several weeks later,” said a senior officer, aware of the tender.

The performance of the Air wing has been deteriorating with the breakdown of most of the aircraft and the high turnover of pilots and engineers due to better salaries and benefits elsewhere, resulting in lack of adequate personnel

An audit report of the wing says that the unit is understaffed.