Opposition in Kenya questions spending $37mil on its troops sent to Congo

Kenya’s parliament has approved the deployment of nearly 1,000 troops to fight an insurgency in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid questions about the $37 million cost for the first six months of the mission.

A parliament committee report says the funds will be spent on equipment, allowances, and operations for the troops joining the East African Community Regional Force that will support Congolese forces against armed groups.

Opposition lawmakers questioned why Kenya is spending so much money on the regional mission while the country faces not only its own security issues but also rising inflation and high public debt.

Kenyan President William Ruto recently called the mission “necessary and urgent” for regional security. “As neighbors, the destiny of DRC is intertwined with ours,” Ruto said. “We will not allow any armed groups, criminals, and terrorists to deny us our shared prosperity.”
Kenyan troops will join a regional force that includes soldiers from Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan as tensions flare over alleged support for the militants from neighboring Rwanda. Armed M23 insurgents in the east of DRC have stepped up attacks, reigniting long-standing regional tensions — particularly between DRC and Rwanda. That prompted leaders of the East African Community (EAC) to agree in April to establish a joint force to help restore regional security.