Five members of the US Congress, through Kenya's Ambassador to Washington Robinson Njeru, have told the Kenyan Government to reconsider a proposed Sh43 Billion purchase of 12 armed aircraft meant for KDF soldiers.
The lawmakers told Ambassador Njeru that the deal was bad for Kenya adding that they “have reason to question the propriety of the acquisition.”
According to the members, L-3 Communications, the company which was awarded the contract, had no experience to manufacture the weapons adding that Kenya could get the prized assets for half the price.
“Spending Sh43 Billion of Kenyan national funds on aircraft that could be acquired for over Sh20 Billion less from a company that has years of past performance and an existing production line is not an optimal allocation of scarce defence dollars,” the congressmen told Githae.
Led by Congressman Ted Budd, they urged their colleagues to block the deal and ensure Kenya gets a good deal considering they had been long-term allies.
“We ask that the government of Kenya take these facts, in particular, the prospect of an ongoing congressional investigation of this sale, under consideration as it decides whether or not to proceed with this arms purchase,” Mr Budd said.
The weapons are meant to bolster KDF’s campaign against Al-Shabaab.
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