Interior CS John Nkaissery slams Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich over security funding

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery tore into his National Treasury counterpart Henry Rotich and his Permanent Secretary for their "failure to understand national security".

Mr Nkaissery told National Assembly's Committee on Administration and National Security that he failed to understand why the National Treasury had refused to let his docket oversee the multi-billion housing plan for police officers.

"The Treasury does not seem to understand national security. They think keeping money there (is providing security)," said Nkaissery as he lobbied MPs to reject a Sh400 million budget cut that the Treasury has proposed in the supplementary budget with regard to Prisons department's budget.

The CS, who was accompanied by two principal secretaries, Karanja Kibicho (Interior) and Micah Powon (Correctional Services) and the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet pleaded with the committee to push the National Treasury to allocate the extra Sh12 billion which they have been denied.

"When you talk to Dr (PS Kamau) Thugge haelewi vitu (he doesn't understand). He is very good with economics. He listens very well and tells you that he is going to work out on his figures, then he comes back and tells you 'haiwezekani' (it is impossible)," he said.

They had requested for Sh21 billion in the supplementary budget, but only Sh9 billion was cleared by the Treasury.

"...our budget is based on the need. We don't need more than we require," said Nkaissery.