Regional countries up security spending over terror and wars
A Kenya Defence Forces soldier attached to Amisom patrols the harbour of Kismayu sea port in January. East African countries have raised their defence budgets. Photo/FILE
East African countries have substantially increased their spending on national security to beef up capacity in the face of terrorism and political instability in the Horn of Africa.
Kenya, the biggest spender, increased its security budget by 24 per cent to $1.7 billion from last year’s $1.3 billion. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich disclosed this on Thursday, when he presented a $20.5 billion budget in parliament.
