Sh1.9 billion UN Amisom refund eases cash crunch

Nearly 4,000 Kenyan soldiers are part of Amisom. FILE PHOTO | NMG

By BONFACE OTIENO

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Summary

• Treasury documents show that the reimbursement was done last month, and accounts for a third of this year’s total refunds of Sh6.1 billion.
• The reimbursement is scheduled quarterly and the Treasury had received Sh2.7 billion in the first six months of the year—pushing total refunds for the eight months to February to Sh4.1 billion.

The United Nations eased Kenya’s cash crunch after it refunded the country Sh1.9 billion for money spent by its troops fighting Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia.

Treasury documents show that the reimbursement was done last month, and accounts for a third of this year’s total refunds of Sh6.1 billion.

The reimbursement is scheduled quarterly and the Treasury had received Sh2.7 billion in the first six months of the year—pushing total refunds for the eight months to February to Sh4.1 billion.

In the past, delay in reimbursement of the money has been linked to the UN’s insistence on proper verification of Kenya’s claims.

The refund is expected to ease budgetary constraints for a government whose revenue collection for first half to November is behind target by Sh68.5 billion, setting the stage for further budget cuts.

READ: UN eases Kenya cash crunch with Sh1.9bn refund

Nearly 4,000 Kenyan soldiers are part of Amisom, the peacekeeping mission, and the international community provides $1,028 (Sh103,828) for each soldier each month; their respective governments then deduct about $200 (Sh20,200) for administrative costs meaning the soldiers take home about $800 (Sh83,628).

The soldiers receive the allowances through the government.