Kenya’s ability to secure its borders is being severely hampered by outdated and inadequate security equipment, according to National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji. Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on Monday, Haji painted a grim picture of the country’s preparedness to handle increasing threats along its borders.
Haji noted that Kenya’s security forces have been chronically underfunded, making it nearly impossible to acquire modern defence tools. He warned that this lack of investment has left the country vulnerable to cross-border threats from neighbouring nations.
“If you look at Uganda, the Karamajong and other communities are crossing into Kenya for cattle rustling and land encroachment. From South Sudan, there is the proliferation of small arms. And from Ethiopia, the Oromo Liberation Army is occupying Kenyan territory,” Haji said. He stressed that without proper equipment, Kenya’s ability to respond to such threats is gravely compromised.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Haji revealed that some military units have not received new equipment in over a decade. He urged lawmakers to take the issue seriously and prioritize the sector’s budget to safeguard national security.
The NIS had requested Ksh.65 billion to bolster intelligence and security operations but received only Ksh.51 billion after budget cuts.
Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru echoed Haji’s concerns, stating that underfunding has crippled the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) from fulfilling their mandate. He noted that KDF has not conducted any recruitment in the past two financial years due to budget constraints.
“This is not sustainable,” Mariru told the committee. “We must recruit this year to replenish the force. We are requesting about Ksh.2 billion for the recruitment process alone, with each officer requiring roughly Ksh.2 million for nine months of training.”
The statements from the NIS and Defence Ministry highlight a pressing national security issue that demands urgent attention. Without decisive financial backing, Kenya may continue to face escalating border threats with limited capacity to respond effectively.
