𝐌𝐃𝐀𝐬 Meet on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under the oversight purview of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations have today appeared before Members, to brief MPs on their respective 1st Supplementary Estimates (2023/24 FY).

Those that appeared before the Hon. Nelson Koech (Belgut)-led Committee were the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Departments under the Ministry of Defence, that of East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) & Regional Development as well as that of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

The NIS team led by the Agency’s Deputy Director General Ms. Agnes Shikuku put up a strong case for enhanced budgetary allocation to deal with the need for enhanced surveillance citing emerging security threats.

Defence Principal Secretary Hon. Patrick Mariru also defended the Ministry’s 1st Supplementary Estimates citing the need for enhanced capacity of the Kenya Defence Forces to deal with escalating regional security threats, as well as funding of the ongoing peace restoration efforts in the banditry-prone Northern Kenya Region; where the KDF have been complementing the National Police Service.

Separately Ms. Peninah Malonza, who is the CS for EAC, Asal and Regional Development, and the PS in the State Department of EAC Affairs Mr. Abdi Dubat rooted for increased funding to cater for outreach programmes on regional integration, as well as deployment of staff to the Kenyan Consulate in Arusha to enhance Kenya’s economic diplomacy efforts in the region as an incentive to boost the Kenya’s trade fortunes in the region.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, who also handles the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs docket defended the quest for enhanced funding to boost the Ministry’s diplomatic efforts among strategic allies, as well as to deal more efficiently with issues affecting Kenyans in the Diaspora.

Hon. Koech said the Committee would gauge the respective MDAs’ requests, against the urgency and necessity of the budgetary requests noted.

“As a Committee, even as we oversight you it is also our responsibility to ensure that you are well resourced. We have listened and heard you and we will together with our fiscal analysts review the budget and your proposals and arrive at the final position,” said Hon. Koech.

Among concerns raised by MPs were questions on likely duplication duties between MDAs, and rising pending bills among different Government Agencies.

The Committee will defend its final Report on the 1st Supplementary Estimates (2023/24 FY) before the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee.