The government has detailed a plan to spend Ksh5 billion in hiring 5,000 law enforcement officers in the month of April and ahead of the much anticipated August 9 elections.
The Ministry of Interior and National Coordination made public the plans when the Principal secretary, Karanja Kibicho, appeared before the National Assembly on Tuesday, February 8.
The Ministry was also put to task to defend its Supplementary Budget of Ksh9.06 billion for the current Financial Year 2021/2022.
From the requested amount, the Ministry of Interior stated that it plans to allocate Ksh5.75 billion to the National Police Service while Ksh278 million will be allocated to its headquarters and the National Government Administration Office.
Kibicho defended the recruitment of 5,000 police officers at the cost of Ksh5.75 billion noting that they will be essential in the preparation and management of the elections.
On top of that, the Ministry is also looking to receive Ksh2.53 billion to be channeled towards acquiring police uniforms.
"Officers are already wearing the blue uniform in big cities but not all officers," Kibicho told the National Assembly Committee on Administration and National Security.
An addition of Ksh2 billion will be used to equip the Directorate of Criminal Investigations forensic laboratory which is expected to be officially launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The forensic lab is expected to scale up the DCI unit especially in dealing with serious crimes in the country that require high level of evidence analysis.
Kibicho requested for ksh5.8 billion for the police Group Life Insurance Cover and Ksh574 million to cover the pending bills.
Moreover, The National Secure Communication Network and Surveillance system has requested for Ksh538 million. This system is vital as it was commissioned by Uhuru to help in the dissemination of information between security agencies.
The system is expected to enhance real time sharing of information and help the police service solve most complicated cases of crime.
