No fuel... No vehicles: Police seek over Ksh.20B in urgent funds ahead of elections

The National Police Service requires an additional Ksh.21 billion to finance its operations and strengthen national security ahead of next year’s general election.

Douglas Kanja, the Inspector General of Police, told the National Assembly Administration and Internal Security Committee that some police stations lack electricity, while about half of all stations in the country have no vehicles.

The money, comprising Ksh.20.16 billion for recurrent expenditure and Ksh. 1.5 billion for development was presented to Parliament on Thursday.

The allocation includes: Ksh.5.9 billion for insurance costs, Ksh.3.2 billion for security operations, Ksh.2 billion to purchase police security communication equipment, Ksh.1 billion for fuel, Ksh.1.6 billion for the recruitment of 10,000 police constables and Ksh.1 billion for the purchase of specialised materials, among others.

The service had initially been allocated Ksh.127 billion at the start of the current financial year.

“50 per cent of our police stations do not have vehicles, and we are also struggling with fuel,” said Kanja.

Kanja also revealed that several police stations across the country are still operating without electricity.

“Yes, there are many police stations without power…” he added.

However, some members of the committee raised concerns over the rising cost of settling pending bills for the National Police Service Referral Hospital – Mbagathi, whose construction cost has increased to Ksh.833 million from the original Ksh.400 million.

“This is corruption. We will not allow this to continue to be part of this request…” Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said.

The developments come as Kanja highlighted a shortage of 15,000 police officers in the service, outlining plans to boost the numbers ahead of next year’s elections.

This follows a meeting of county police commanders to address the country’s security situation.

“Mmekuwa mkiomba mpewe maafisa zaidi wa polisi. Kwa sasa hatuna na itabidi mfanye kazi na wale mlio nao. Najua mna mapungufu lakini tutawapa maafisa zaidi mwezi October ili wawasaidie. Hivyo msiwe na wasiwasi,” Kanja noted.

Kanja also elaborated on the police strategy to deal with rioters.

“Tutawapa silaha ili muwe na uwezo wa kupambana na waandamanaji na wahuni ili Wakenya wawe na amani. Pia mtapokea sare mpya katika kipindi cha miezi mitatu ijayo. We will not allow goonship…” he said.

Director Directorate of Criminal Investigations Amin Mohamed added, “Tumekamata watu kadhaa na waliohusika ni wahuni. Hatutakubali wahuni kuendelea kushambulia watu nchini.”