Kenya allocates Sh28m only to fight terrorism against retired presidents’ Sh150m

The fight against terrorism is likely to take a hit in the next financial year unless the National Treasury shores up the budget for the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU).

The whole unit, which is based at Nairobi Area, just a stone throw away from the Seat of Power has been allocated Sh28 million.
The meagre allocation for the crucial unit, which is supposed to spearhead the fight against terrorism, more so now that the Somalia-based Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militia has vowed to strike targets in Kenya, is telling about Government priorities.
A scrutiny of the figures by The Standard shows the bulk of the money will be used in operations (Sh8.8 million), vehicle maintenance (Sh3.8 million), rent of assets (Sh8.3 million), and domestic travel (Sh4 million).
The allocation to the ATPU is less than the hospitality budget for the Office of the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, whose budget for “hospitality supplies and services” – money for flowers, tea, drinks, cakes, and gifts – is Sh40 million for the financial year 2014/15. The budget cuts in the allocations for the police services has members of the House team on National Security worried about the Government’s commitment in the fight against and insecurity.