National security will be the third biggest expenditure item in the 2020/21 period. It will come after education and infrastructure, an indication that crime busting and law enforcement will be among the top priorities in President Kenyatta’s penultimate fiscal year.

The Sh174 billion allocated to governance, law and order reflects a Sh16 billion slash, but places national security ahead of health and water and sanitisation – two dockets that are battling the coronavirus pandemic that has shaken Kenya’s economy to the core.

The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government headed by Dr Fred Matiang’i will be the biggest spender in the docket with Sh131.6 billion, which is a Sh6.9 billion reduction from the current fiscal year.

With this cash, the Interior ministry will be expected to channel Sh6.1 billion towards new and ongoing development projects, such as the vehicle leasing programme, improvement of police housing and improving the government’s services to citizens.

Dr Matiang’i leads several functions, including internal security, border management, coordination of government functions and disaster management.

Other governance, law and order institutions covered by the Sh174 billion budget allocation include the National Intelligence Service, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the State Law Office, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Police Service Commission, the Independent Police Oversight Authority and the Kenya National Human Rights Commission.

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