Kenya will tap a Sh3.4 billion loan from Israel amid plans for Tel Aviv to part-fund the acquisition of a high-tech missile defence system to boost Kenya’s ability to ward off security threats.
Budget documents tabled in Parliament show that the Treasury expects the loan to be directly wired to the Ministry of Defence in the financial year starting this July.
The loan from Israel comes at a time when Kenya is seeking to modernise its military in the face of growing regional and global security threats, notably terror attacks from radical groups.
The director-general of the National Intelligence Service, Noordin Haji, recently warned that Kenya is facing an even bigger terror threat, underscoring the need to speed up efforts to acquire modern defence systems.
“As part of this expansion, ISIS and Al-Shabaab have been collaborating with the Houthis, gaining access to advanced weaponry and sophisticated training. The spillover effects are now being felt in Africa, making the continent an emerging epicentre of terrorism,” Mr Haji said.
Somalia-based al-Shabaab is one of the major groups that continues to pose a terrorist threat to Kenya.
The Ministry of Defence had last year requested for an additional Sh3 billion from the Exchequer to buy the defence system.
The Spyder is a low-level surface-to-air missile system designed to counter attacks from aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and precision-guided munitions.
Kenya is seeking to further modernise its military capabilities in the face of civil wars in neighbouring countries.
Kenya is also seeking to further modernise its military capabilities to detect, intercept and destroy missiles in the face of security threats, including civil wars in neighbouring countries.
The acquisition of the Spyder Defence System will add to Kenya’s military spending.
The US and Turkey are the main suppliers of military gear to Kenya. This includes helicopters, armoured vehicles and drones.
The modernisation of the military is also intended to ensure that the Kenyan Defence Forces meet the standards set by the United Nations in order to qualify for funding whenever it participates in peacekeeping missions.
Two years ago, the government disclosed that it would spend Sh7 billion annually to modernise the security agencies to ensure that they are better equipped to deter foreign threats. The expenditure was to cover a five-year period.
