National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji has raised the alarm over Kenya’s deteriorating defence capabilities, revealing that the military has not acquired new equipment in the last ten years. Speaking before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Foreign Relations and Intelligence, Haji made a strong appeal for increased funding to both the NIS and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), warning that current allocations fall short of what is required to safeguard national security.
“If you look at the kind of equipment that we have in the security sector, it is very wanting,” Haji said. “As a country, we need to decide whether we are serious and whether we are giving the security that Kenyans deserve.”
Haji stressed that the rapidly evolving nature of global and regional threats demands a well-equipped and well-funded security apparatus. He cited insufficient resources as a key limitation to effective intelligence gathering and military preparedness, warning that this exposes the country to internal and external risks.
During the session chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, Haji disclosed that the NIS had been allocated Sh51 billion for the 2025/2026 financial year—Sh14 billion less than the Sh65 billion requested. Of the allocated funds, Sh33 billion is set aside for personnel emoluments, Sh5.5 billion for modernising intelligence infrastructure, Sh4.5 billion for expanding surveillance capabilities, and Sh2.5 billion for multi-agency operations.
A Sh1 billion proposal to recruit highly trained personnel was not approved, further compounding the agency’s capacity challenges.
Haji pointed to specific security threats along Kenya’s borders, including cattle rustling by Karamajong warriors on the Uganda border and the proliferation of small arms along the South Sudan border. He also cited increased threats from the Oromo Liberation Army at the Ethiopian frontier, allegedly in collaboration with al-Shabaab, as well as ongoing instability at the Somalia border.
He cautioned that continued underfunding could cripple the country’s ability to respond effectively to these threats, urging Parliament to re-evaluate priorities and commit to securing the nation.
