The Kenyan government has committed a significant Ksh.2.1 billion to the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. This investment stands in stark contrast to an earlier assurance that taxpayer money would not be allocated to fund the peacekeeping efforts.
A recent letter from the Treasury, which was made public to the National Assembly and reported by Citizen Digital, reveals that the National Treasury has allocated a total of Ksh.17.6 billion under Article 223. This article permits the government to allocate funds without requiring parliamentary approval. From this total, Ksh.2 billion has specifically been directed to support Kenya’s peacekeeping operations in Haiti. This disbursement, completed on September 18, has sparked concerns about the adequacy of resources for the mission, especially as reports indicate that Kenyan troops are contending with challenging conditions in Haiti.
Critics have pointed out the inconsistency between the previous pledge of not using taxpayer funds and the actual expenses incurred.When asked for clarification on this matter, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi stated that the funds expended by Kenya will eventually be reimbursed by the United Nations.
“We are making these payments on behalf of the UN, as the funding comes from our treasury since these are our personnel, while we cover these costs upfront, the UN will compensate us later. It’s important for us to acknowledge this expenditure since it wasn’t part of our initial budget. According to law, we need to act within two months. In our supplementary budgeting, we will account for this as both income and expenditure.”
In a related development, President William Ruto met with former Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille in Nairobi and appealed to the international community for immediate support to maintain police force deployments.
“We are calling on the global community to transform their commitments and pledges into real actions so we can fulfill our mission successfully,”
Since June, Kenya has been spearheading the peacekeeping effort in Haiti, concentrating on addressing the alarming issue of gang violence in the nation. While the road ahead may be fraught with challenges, Kenya remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering peace and security in Haiti.
