NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 25-Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged Members of Parliament to pass the regulations on the National Peace Support Operations Fund proposed by the Defence Council.
Duale said Friday that the kitty shall be critical in funding peace support operations undertaken by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the National Police Service and any other security organ as envisaged in Article 240 (8) (a) of the Constitution.
The CS made the remarks while making a brief on National Peace Support Operations when he appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation in Naivasha.
He informed the Committee that, globally, Kenya has been one of the major Troops Contributing Country (TCC) in peace keeping missions but has over the years experienced financial constraints which has made it hard to fund peace support operations.
Duale told the Committee chaired by Ainabkoi legislator Samuel Chepkonga that, once the funds are in place, it shall facilitate Force generation and Force projection activities as well as financing capacity building programs in training and infrastructure development.
“Kenya is becoming a regional hub in peace keeping and reconciliation. We are an anchor State in the region and with the regularization of this fund, KDF shall modernize their equipment to help upscale their support operations,” Duale said.
He disclosed that the funding shall further aid in carrying out research, monitoring and evaluation of peace related activities and help the units to attain appropriate levels to participate in United Nations peace keeping missions.
According to the regulations, Defence Principal Secretary shall supervise and control the administration of the funds.
The CS was accompanied by Chief of Legal Services Brigadier Yvonne Kerubo, peace keeping expert, Brigadier Edward Rugendo and Jonah Wala, the Director of Accounting Services from the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning.
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