IEBC Chair Warns Budget Cuts Could Disrupt 2027 General Election
He highlighted that approximately 53% of the election budget is allocated to staffing. During the 2022 general elections, more than 500,000 officials were deployed
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has warned that recent budget cuts may significantly hinder preparations for the 2027 general election
In a Tuesday interview with KBC, Ethekon said the commission had initially requested Ksh 61.7 billion for the upcoming elections, but Parliament approved only Ksh 57.3 billion, a reduction he said could affect the IEBC’s ability to efficiently oversee the process
“The reduced budget will force us to scale down personnel at polling stations and at the national tallying centre, potentially disrupting the entire election process,” Ethekon stated
He highlighted that approximately 53% of the election budget is allocated to staffing. During the 2022 general elections, more than 500,000 officials were deployed
“Reducing the resources we need will definitely have a big impact. A large portion of the budget is dedicated to deploying personnel who oversee elections. Any reduction affects that deployment,” Ethekon added
He also raised concerns about the impact on the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS), which is crucial for managing electoral processes. KIEMS incorporates Biometric Voter Registration (BVR), Electronic Voter Identification (EVID), and the Electronic Results Transmission System (ERTS), ensuring secure voter data and efficient polling
“Our elections are largely technology-driven. Many kits used in 2013 and 2017 are now obsolete, so we need to invest in updated technology,” he explained
On voter education, Ethekon stressed the importance of informing Kenyans about their political rights and roles in the electoral process, noting that running six elections simultaneously increases costs
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The IEBC Chair also cited the constitutional framework, reminding that Article 88 of the Constitution defines the commission’s mandate and governing laws
In September, IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan echoed these concerns, revealing that the National Treasury had allocated Ksh 49.75 billion, leaving a Ksh 7.6 billion deficit against the commission’s initial request
“The deficit will adversely affect the Commission in conducting the elections,” Marjan said.
Currently, the IEBC is carrying out continuous voter registration in preparation for the 2027 General Elections
Writer : Mweru Mbugua
