Kenya Defense Forces spending will increase from Sh109 billion to Sh122 billion in 2019/20 budgetary estimates, treasury has confirmed.
Of Sh122 billion, Sh24 billion will be used for purchasing of modern weapons as the country seeks to strengthen her military prowess across East and Central Africa region.
Despite the increase, the government however does not usually give a breakdown on how the money is used, given the traditions of the KDF.
The data released by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), an independent global security think tank, shows that the country’s Budget dwarfs its peers, with the Tanzania’s military spending last year rising to Sh67.5 billion and Uganda Sh40.8 billion.
“Kenya’s spending for last year really did not increase much as compared to its neighbours,” Dr Nan Tian, a researcher on Arms and Military Expenditure Programme at Sippri told the Business Daily.
Kenya has in the last five years continued to lead its regional neighbours both in Budget size as well as annual spending growth, causing fear that it could spark an arms race in the region.
The country, together with Uganda, have been upgrading their firepower, either through purchases or donations, as they lead the African Union Mission in Somalia efforts against the Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia, who have been blamed for attacks on Kenyan soil, including abduction of foreign workers.
Last year, Treasury boss Henry Rotich defended the expenditures, adding that KDF was engaged in several missions thus the upward trajectory in her spending.
“The Kenya Defence Forces promoted regional and international peace through participation in peace missions in Amisom and South Sudan,” said Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich.
"In addition, KDF provided humanitarian assistance in various parts of the country, key among them being delivery of relief supplies and offering transport to civil institutions such as the Kenya National Examination Council during floods.”
By 2021, Kenya is hoping to withdraw all her soldiers from the neighbouring Somalia, where they have been actively engaged since 2011.