The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will need Sh61 billion to complete the 2027 General Elections.
This has been revealed today by the Commission’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Obadiah Keitany while appearing before the National Assembly legal Committee.
According to the deputy CEO, a total of 5.7 million new voters are expected by then and the budget will be used for boundary delimitation, voting kits replacement, allowances, ballot papers, transport, and other miscellaneous costs.
“IEBC projects an additional 5.7 million new voters to have a total of 28 million in the 2027 election,” Keitany stated.
IEBC Finance Director Osman Ibrahim stated that 45,352 Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits, which IEBC needs to electronically capture voters’ facial images, fingerprints, and civil data would need replacing.
Ibrahim explained that KIEMS kits become obsolete after 10 years and that the total cost of replacing them is Ksh7 billion, going by the Ksh65,000 cost of each.
“There will be a total replacement of 45,352 KIEMS kits, except for the 14,000 bought in 2022. In total, 59,352 kits are required,” He said.
Keitany stated that the electoral commission needs Sh7 billion for boundaries delimitation but it’s still a matter that needs the advisory from the law courts.
While at the committee, the IEBC officials said 14 by-elections are still pending with a projected cost of Sh480 million needed to conduct the mini-polls.
The 2027 budget prospects by IEBC supersede the Sh44.6 billion 2022 budget which was the world’s most expensive election where 22,120,258 voters were involved.
The commission needs urgent approval of the budget by the legislators to secure the funds as they added the only stumbling block currently is the reconstitution of its commissioners to begin the groundwork for the upcoming general elections.
The revelations by the IEBC officials come days after the Commissioner’s selection panel began its work to ensure new commissioners and a chairperson are in place.
The panel received 1,848 applications for the commissioners and Chairperson.
The Electoral Commission has been facing constitutional challenges since 2023 when it fell below its legal membership threshold due to political and legal disputes.
