Acting Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO Murjan Hussein Murjan has highlighted a hitch which could affect how the 2022 General Election will be conducted.
Speaking to MPs on Monday, Mr Murjan confirmed that the Commission was experiencing a shortfall in funding.
The acting CEO stated that the funds they requested from the National Treasury were not disbursed in full.
According to the official, IEBC had requested Sh40.085 billion and only Sh33.013 billion was allocated to the elections commission.
Murjan highlighted that the Sh7.07 billion deficit will affect preparations for the 2022 General Election.
Though the executive didn't provide a breakdown of the projected expenditure, he noted that some of the funds had already been allocated to the voter registration exercise and recurrent expenses.
"We have been allocated Sh14.95 billion in the next financial year out of which Sh2.56 billion will go towards mass voter registration exercise," he stated.
The acting CEO reported that the Commission still has a Sh2.7 billion debt from the 2017 General Election, Sh1.5 billion of which is legal fees.
Preparations for 2022 General Election
A previous statement by IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati had indicated an anticipated deficit of Sh13.9 billion where he claimed Treasury had allocated only Sh26.5 billion to the Commission.
"The Commission's budgetary request for the 9th August 2022 General Election was Sh40.4 billion. However, the National Treasury's current budgetary allocation is Sh26.5 billion for elections and boundaries review. In the financial year 2021/2022 the Commission has been allocated Sh14.5 billion out of which Sh4.5 billion is for recurrent and capital expenditure leaving Sh10 billion for elections and boundaries review," Chebukati's statement clarified.
The Chairperson added: "The Commission will conclude the Boundaries delimitation exercise within the legally provided timelines. The last Boundaries delimitation exercise was conducted in 2012 and the Commission has up to March 2024 to undertake and conclude the next review as the law provides for intervals of between 8-12 years."