• + Comment now
• Print
• Email
• Tweet
• Reset

The head of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said on Thursday (May 10th) that the panel needs at least 35 billion shillings ($419 million) for the next elections, double the Treasury's allocation.

"What we received was 17.5 billion shillings ($209 million). What we had asked for was 41.1 billion shillings ($492 million)," said IEBC CEO James Oswago, according to Kenya's Capital FM News. He told the parliamentary justice and legal affairs committee that the deficit will affect crucial matters such as litigation expenses, voter registration and a possible runoff.

IEBC Chairman Issack Hassan told the committee that if parliament insists on the current budget allocation, elections would have to be held over three days instead of one.

Chepalungu legislator Isaac Ruto expressed shock at the amount. "At first, I was a little bit scared of the 17 billion shillings, but I cannot understand why you took it to 41 billion shillings. It is mind boggling," he said. "Tell us how to run these elections. Do not say it is not possible. Tell us how you can run the polls around the figure you have been given."

Lawmakers requested the IEBC officials re-examine their budget and return next week with a trimmed-down request for parliament to consider.