The Kenyan government has significantly increased funding for the country’s security sector in the 2025/2026 national budget, allocating Ksh 464.8 billion a notable rise from the Ksh 377.5 billion set aside in the previous fiscal year. The boost of Ksh 87.3 billion underscores the state’s renewed focus on strengthening national security and supporting the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, while presenting the budget to Parliament, emphasized the central role of a secure environment in enabling economic growth, attracting investment, and maintaining national stability. “A safe and secure environment is a critical pillar for prosperity,” Mbadi said.
The increased allocation will support various initiatives, including the recruitment of additional police, prison, and military personnel, modernization of equipment, expansion of infrastructure, and digitization of key services such as passport and ID issuance.
Budget Breakdown:
- Defence: Ksh 202.3 billion
- National Police Service: Ksh 125.7 billion
- National Intelligence Service (NIS): Ksh 51.4 billion
- Internal Security & National Administration: Ksh 32.5 billion
- Prisons Services: Ksh 38.1 billion
- Police Motor Vehicle Leasing: Ksh 10 billion
- Police Modernization Programme: Ksh 3.6 billion
- National Forensic Facilities: Ksh 1.2 billion
In comparison, the 2024/2025 budget allocated Ksh 173.1 billion to Defence, Ksh 110.6 billion to the National Police Service, and Ksh 46.3 billion to the NIS. Police leasing and modernization had a combined allocation of Ksh 13.9 billion, while forensic facilities received Ksh 918.4 million.
Mbadi noted that the government will also prioritize the construction of housing and health facilities for security officers, aiming to improve their welfare and operational efficiency. These efforts align with the broader objectives of Vision 2030 and the Fourth Medium-Term Plan, both of which position security as a key enabler of sustainable development.
With these measures, the state hopes to strengthen Kenya’s internal and external security posture amidst growing global and domestic threats.
