GSU officers seek more funds as they face poor housing, unpaid allowances

GSU officers seek more funds as they face poor housing, unpaid allowances

General Service Unit (GSU) officials told the committee that officers deployed to remote and harsh environments were living in makeshift shelters, with worn-out tents exposing them to extreme weather conditions.

Police officers in specialised units have asked Parliament to increase funding for better housing, higher allowances, and modern equipment, citing poor living conditions, delayed payments, and a shortage of resources needed to carry out security operations nationwide.

Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security during an oversight visit to a police facility in Magadi, Kajiado County, the officers called for more funding to address their welfare and operational challenges.

The committee, chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, visited the facility to assess the implementation of the security sector budget and determine whether allocated funds were meeting the needs of police officers.

General Service Unit (GSU) officials told the committee that officers deployed to remote and harsh environments were living in makeshift shelters, with worn-out tents exposing them to extreme weather conditions.

Dr Benard Kibet Yegon, a Superintendent of Police in charge of Planning, Research and Reforms at GSU headquarters, said some camps needed urgent improvements, including semi-permanent housing to replace the old tents.

“The tents are really wearing us out. We could put up some semi-permanent structures in these camps. It requires a little funding,” Yegon told the committee.

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He said the poor accommodation had made working conditions difficult, with some officers forced to endure cold weather while performing their duties. He urged the government to increase funding for housing and equipment, warning that the current budget could not meet the unit’s growing needs.

Yegon also called for the formal establishment of the specialised tactical unit as a permanent formation within the Kenya Police Service to strengthen its legal and operational mandate.

He said the unit would provide specialised support during emergencies that could overwhelm regular police officers, including attacks by armed groups such as Al-Shabaab. He added that officers needed advanced training to handle high-risk operations and respond quickly to emerging security threats.

“Strengthening GSU capability through targeted modernisation and technological advancement is essential to enhance operational effectiveness and preparedness in addressing the evolving national security environment,” Yegon said.

He further called for investment in modern equipment, ammunition, drones and surveillance technology to improve intelligence gathering and the unit’s ability to respond to security threats.

The officials also asked Parliament to review deployment allowances for specialised officers, noting that GSU officers in the specialised unit currently receive Sh2,000 monthly.

Yegon said the amount needed to be reviewed in view of the risks and demands associated with their assignments. He also called for the implementation of a special operations allowance previously approved for another specialised formation, saying GSU officers were yet to receive the benefit.

The unit also sought funding to establish five operational commands and strengthen cooperation with other security agencies through a multi-agency framework.

Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service Eliud Lagat told the committee that the service had accumulated Sh70 million in allowance arrears, with some officers going without payment for two to three months.

“I would humbly ask that you have a look at it in the next supplementary budget. Already, we have arrears of Sh70 million. Most officers have not been paid for the last two or three months, and we are struggling with that issue,” Lagat said.

He also raised concerns over delays in enrolling newly recruited officers under the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical cover, saying some officers who had recently completed training had yet to be fully enrolled.

Lagat further requested Sh60 million to facilitate the transfer and rotation of officers across the country, including those moving between Mandera, Busia and Narok.

He said the transfers should be completed early to allow officers to familiarise themselves with their new work environments before the 2027 General Election.

“It is high time that we do it now, even before December 2026, so that they can acclimatise and get to know the environment before the elections,” he said.

Responding to the requests, Tongoyo said the committee would identify priority items for possible funding in the forthcoming supplementary budget, while other needs would be considered in subsequent budget estimates.

He said the visit was part of Parliament’s oversight role in checking how the security sector budget was being implemented and whether the allocated resources were meeting operational needs.

“We don’t just take pride in physically coming and seeing. We want to also make an undertaking. It is not just going to be a mere visit,” Tongoyo said.

The chairman said the committee would assess the requests and determine which could be included in the supplementary budget, with the remaining priorities considered during the next budget cycle.

He added that the committee had previously visited other police training and operational facilities, including Magado Field Campus and the GSU facility in Kiganjo, where similar concerns had been raised.

Tongoyo said legislators would continue engaging security agencies to address challenges affecting their operations, while noting that competing demands on public finances could limit the available support.