The Interior Ministry is asking for an additional Sh9 billion for its operations including election preparedness and recruitment of 5,000 police officers in April.

In the first supplementary estimates for the current financial year, 2021/22, the ministry has requested for Sh9.06 billion, of which Sh5.75 billion will go to the National Police Service while its headquarters and the National Government Administration Office will be allocated Sh278 million.

While appearing before the National Assembly’s departmental Committee on Administration and National Security yesterday, Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho said the service needed to recruit additional 5,000 police officers and the proposed budget is Sh5.2 billion.

Police uniform

He said President Uhuru Kenyatta was expected to officially launch the Directorate of Criminal Investigations forensic laboratory and said an addition Sh2 billion was required to equip it. The police Forensic Laboratory whose construction began two decades ago will be launched this month and is expected to fast track investigations of serious crimes like terrorism, murder, robbery with violence, cybercrime and rape among others.

For the police Group Life Cover, the ministry requested for Sh5.8 billion and another Sh574 million for the pending bills on the cover.

The National Secure Communication Network and Surveillance System has been allocated Sh538 million.

The NSTS was launched by President Uhuru as an integrated communications platform aimed at enhancing sharing of information between security agencies. 

It is expected to enhance co-ordination of security activities and operations and allow real-time information exchange.  The ministry also said it needs Sh2.53 billion for police uniform and clothing. 

“Officers are already wearing the blue uniform in big cities but not all officers,” Kibicho said.