Wafula Chebukati Reveals IEBC Money Problems

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati at the commission's office at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi in June 2017.
IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati at the commission's office at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi in June 2017.
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Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati revealed the commission was struggling financially ahead of the 2022 General Elections.

Speaking on Saturday, July 3, Chebukati stated that the electoral agency had not managed to register voters ahead of the 2022 polls due to a shortage of funds.

However, the commissioner noted that the IEBC will be rolling out mass voter registration exercises and was targeting 4 million new voters.

EBC Chairperosn Wafula Chebukati addressing a crowd on Oct 22, 2018
EBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati at a conference held on October 22, 2018
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According to the IEBC chairman, the electoral agency has managed to register only 147,000 Kenyans since 2017.

Chebukati was speaking during a media sustainability convention organised by the Kenya Media Sector Working Group where he was put on task again for not barring corrupt leaders from vying.

IEBC earlier stated that the stifled budget allocations had stalled priority activities such as maintenance and updating of election technology.

The budget constraints further affected the IEC's voter registration, voter education and public awareness programs that are key to a credible general election.

During the reading of the budget Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ukur Yatani allocated Ksh14.5 billion to the electoral board for the financial year 2021/2022.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Hussein Marjan stated that the funds allocated to the IEBC will be used in administration and preparation for the 2022 general election.

However, the acting CEO also clarified that the funds allocated by Treasury would not be used in a Referendum in case the BBI ruling by the High Court is overturned by the Appellate judges.

“Referendum costs were not factored in when the Treasury Cabinet Secretary announced allocations to the IEBC,” Marjan stated.

Chebukati and Marjan had appeared before Senate in June and painted a grim picture of the financial situation at the electoral commission. 

The two told the Senate Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights that some suppliers had vowed to never do business as they pleaded for more money to be allocated to the commission.

Anniversary Towers Nairobi where the IEBC has its current headquarters
Anniversary Towers Nairobi where the IEBC has its current headquarters
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