EU cuts funds for KDF soldiers in Somalia by half

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EU cuts funds for KDF soldiers in Somalia by half

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Kenya announced that its operations against al-Shabaab will be hindered by lack of fund for its soldiers working under the framework of Amisom after European Union (EU) and its partners decided cut funds for KDF by half.

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MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Kenya announced that its operations against al-Shabaab will be hindered by lack of fund for its soldiers working under the framework of Amisom after European Union (EU) and its partners decided cut funds for KDF by half.

Military officials, privy to the matter said a secret partial withdrawal of Kenyan soldiers has forced EU cut by half the budget for KDF soldiers.

Julius Muia, Kenya Treasury principal secretary (PS) told the parliament of the East African nation that that the nation received Sh4.5 billion from African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) in the 12-month period to June 2019 against a target of Sh8.5 billion.

"The amount was received was based on the number of actual troops deployed in Somalia. By July, 2018, the number of troops was subsequently reduced,” Muia said.

According to Muia, it costs about Sh7,000 ($70) a day to keep a Kenyan soldier in Somalia.

This covers food, transport, medical care, communication and water expenses, which translates to Sh210,000 ($2100) a month and Sh2.52 million a year.

2011, Kenya Defence Forces moved into Southern Somalia to pursue insurgents group Al Shabaab after a series of kidnappings of tourists along the border. One month, later Kenyan government agreed to re-hat its forces under the African Union Mission in Somalia.

The troops from Kenya were later formally integrated into AMISOM on February 22, 2012 after the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2036.

AMSOM’s Sector 2, which has its headquarters in the port city of Kismayo, is comprised of Lower and Middle Juba. Currently there are 3664 troops from Kenya after they pulled out a battalion when 850 Sierra Leonean troops arrived.