Lugari MP Ayub Savula has castigated the plans by the national government to spend Kshs 140 billion on purchasing military choppers terming it a misplaced priority. Speaking in his constituency, Savula said it was disappointing to see a country with a struggling economy wasting billions of shillings on non-priorities.
He said Kenya is not at war with its neighbours to warrant such mega spending on military equipment when the country’s economy is in shambles. The MP said it would have been better if the government used the funds to come up with well equipped cancer centers, revitalize Mumias Sugar Company which requires Kshs. 5 billion, and awaken the country’s industrial sector to create jobs.
Kenya’s military spending last year stood at Kshs 109.7 billion exceeding the amount spent by neighbours Tanzania and Uganda combined- according to a global report in 2018, pushing the country’s defense bill to the sixth largest in Africa.