It has been revealed that the government, through the National Treasury, has spent Ksh.2.1 billion on the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti.
This comes despite earlier assurances from the government that no taxpayer money would be used to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti.
Kenya has deployed 400 of its pledged 1,000 police officers in June and July this year.
The decision to allocate such funds has raised questions, especially considering the initial stance that the mission would be funded by international bodies rather than local resources.
Govt Insists No Taxpayers Money Will be Used in Haiti Mission
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary and now Deputy President Kithure Kindiki stated in October 2023 that the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti would be fully funded by the United Nations.
“For the Haiti mission because the Haiti mission is a United Nations mission and the money to take care of the deployment in Haiti of the troops from Kenya and the troops from other countries that are contributing will be provided by the member states of the United Nations… I repeat Kenya will not be spending any money,” Kindiki said earlier.
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However, according to Citizen Digital, a letter from the Treasury revealed that the National Treasury spent a total of Ksh.17.6 billion under Article 223, which permits the government to use funds without parliamentary approval in specific circumstances.
Out of this amount, Ksh.2 billion was allocated to support Kenya’s peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
Despite the disbursement made on September 18 this year, reports indicate that Kenyan troops deployed in Haiti are enduring difficult conditions.
CS Mbadi Responds to Ksh 2.1 Billion Spent
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi clarified that the money spent by Kenya will be reimbursed by the United Nations (UN), as the funds are being used on behalf of the global body for peacekeeping efforts.
Also Read: Haiti Prime Minister Fired 6 Months After Taking Office
Mbadi emphasized that the government is effectively acting as a financial intermediary, spending the money with the understanding that the UN will cover the costs.
“We are the ones making the payment, so the money comes from our exchequer because these are our officers,” he 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.”
A week ago, President William Ruto held a telephone conversation with US President-elect Donald Trump regarding the Kenya-led peace mission in the Carribean Nation.
“I briefed President Trump on the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti and possible areas of cooperation with the US government on this important conflict resolution initiative,” said Ruto.
In October, he appealed for urgent financial support from the international community to sustain a police deployment in Haiti, which was extended by a year.
“We are asking the international community to match their commitment and their pledges with the necessary action for us to be able to complete the task ahead of us,” Ruto said earlier.
“When resources are made available, there will be demonstrable progress of the mission.”
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