US ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, revealed that the US supported the August 9, 2022, elections in Kenya with Ksh2.2 billion ($18 million).
According to the diplomat, the money was used for elections-related activities, including civic and voter education training for electoral institutions and peace messaging that reached 18 million people.
Whitman spoke on Friday, December 9, at the Jurist of the Year Award ceremony (JOYA).
In July 2022, Kenya's August 9 General Election was ranked among the most expensive polls in the world.
The estimated budget was Ksh40.9 billion, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) estimated to have spent Ksh2,000 per voter.
Whitman also commended the Supreme Court for ruling on election issues in accordance with the Kenyan Constitution.
"While many different civic and religious leaders contributed to this success, I especially want to commend Chief Justice Koome and the Supreme Court judges for their role in supporting a free, fair, and peaceful election," she stated.
"Kenya's Judiciary offered the world an example of how to resolve disputes through the courts rather than in the streets," she added.
Furthermore, she announced that the U.S. government will launch a six-million-dollar anti-corruption program with Kenya.
This program is expected to decrease fraud, waste, and abuse in key service delivery sectors at the county level and will also partner with key institutions such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
In addition, the ambassador stated that the US funds a Ksh651.3 million ($5.3 million) capacity-building project at the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
