Kenya is set to acquire sophisticated weapons worth Ksh7 billion in 2024 to bolster its efforts in tackling banditry and terrorism.
According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the first batch of the weapons are expected to arrive in the country early next year.
Some modern equipment set to arrive in the country include Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP), Armoured Personnel Carriers and surveillance drones and war helicopters.
The modernization exercise will run for five years costing a total of Ksh37 billion.
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"The government did approve a five-year program on the modernization of equipment which is going to spend Ksh37 billion. Initially, it was Ksh20 billion but the government through President Ruto decided to increase that amount therefore we will be spending an average of Ksh7 billion every year to modernize your equipment," Kindiki stated.
"The first equipment including MRAPS, drones, personal protection equipment and helicopter will arrive in the next seven or 10 days," Kindiki added.
The Interior CS announced that the modern weapons will help suppress criminal activities in the country including banditry in Northern Kenya.
"This will boost security agencies which are battling Al-Shabaab terrorists and bandits in the country,” Counter Terrorism Policing stated.