Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has come to the defense of National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji, following viral remarks in Parliament where Haji lamented critical budget cuts to Kenya’s national security apparatus.
Murkomen, speaking during a media appearance, said the DG’s rare and emotionally charged statements were triggered by attempts to politicize the national security budget.
“Some people are doing politics with the security budget. They look at the funds allocated to the NIS and claim it’s for political operations, which is completely misleading,” he stated.
He emphasized the dire funding shortfall, noting that Kenya is currently unable to provide even half of what is required to secure the country.
Despite this, strategic technology investments, like MRAPs (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles), drones, and surveillance systems, have made an impact—especially in volatile regions in the north.
Murkomen added that a lack of helicopters and air power is hampering the security forces’ ability to respond to banditry and other threats.
“One reason we can’t always track the bandits is because we don’t have enough helicopters to get our forces on the ground in time.”
Defending Haji’s emotional testimony, Murkomen said, “If you knew the kind of information he has, you wouldn’t sleep at night. Sometimes he has to stay quiet to maintain calm in the country—but when the budget is threatened, he must speak.”
The statement adds to growing tension between Parliament and the intelligence community over funding allocations amid a rising national security threat landscape.
Since Kipchumba Murkomen became Interior CS in August 2024, Kenya’s security has seen mixed outcomes.
His ministry scored a win with the April 2025 arrest of nine Panga Boys gang members in Msambweni, Kwale, recovering 11 machetes and drugs, part of a crackdown netting 145 suspects.
The WRC Safari Rally in Naivasha, March 2025, also ran smoothly under tight NPS security. However, challenges persist—Al-Shabaab threats linger in the North East, banditry plagues the North Rift, with 12 civilian deaths linked to police operations since August, per KNCHR. Urban crime in Nairobi is up 15%, fueling public anger on X over safety.
