Cash released to fund Kenya Defence Forces(KDF) soldiers fighting Al-Shabab militia for the half-year period through December 2020 fell short of Ksh 8 billion with the audit questioning payment to non-existent soldiers.
This disclosure comes through a leaked audit report by PWC Associates Ltd (Mauritius) which queried the payment of soldiers who had left the mission. This is said to have resulted from weak accountability measures in the payroll which resulted in a possible loss of millions between 2016 and 2018.
The latest exchequer statistics show grants from African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), funded by European Union (EU) and its partners amounted to Ksh 1.45 billion in the July-December period against a budget goal of nearly Ksh 9.45 billion.
Since then, the treasury has slashed its target for the whole year from Amison grants to Ksh 7.4 billion for the period ending June 2021 for an earlier goal of Ksh 24.1 billion.
Before the full withdrawal of KDF soldiers, the country expects Ksh 2.5 billion more in the financial year starting July.
Soldiers in KDF serve for one year, which at times is extended by a few months or cut short depending on the situation. The United Nations (UN) is estimated to pay Ksh 112,052 per month for each soldier.
Of the money the UN pays for each soldier, Ksh 21,800 is deducted by their respective countries for administrative costs, leaving the soldier with Ksh 87,200.
The refunds to Kenya are noted to be falling with indications that Nairobi has gradually been reducing its defense forces from the war-torn country.
In a statement released on Tuesday, March 9, the United States through its Europe and Africa Army contingents unveiled a project valued at Ksh 438 million targeting 3,000 KDF officers.
This project, a Simulator Facility was launched by Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Rohling, the US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa commander during his recent tour in Kenya.
This facility is being set up at Kenya Army School of Infantry in Isiolo and is expected to train 3,000 KDF officers each year.
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