IEBC Demands Ksh.61.7 Billion for 2027 Elections.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has outlined a budget requirement of Ksh.61.7 billion for the upcoming 2027 general election.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Deputy CEO Obadiah Keitany stated that Ksh.7 billion has been allocated for boundary delimitation, though the commission is still awaiting court advisory on the matter.
Keitany projected that the 2027 election will see an increase of 5.7 million new voters, bringing the total electorate to 28 million. Meanwhile, IEBC reported that 14 by-elections are still pending, with an estimated cost of Ksh.480 million.
KIEMS Kits Replacement and Voter Registration
IEBC Finance Director Osman Ibrahim informed Parliament that 45,352 Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits require replacement, excluding the 14,000 units acquired in 2022. In total, 59,352 KIEMS kits will be needed.
He explained that these devices, used to electronically capture voters’ facial images, fingerprints, and civil data, have a lifespan of 10 years and must be replaced at a cost of Ksh.7 billion, given that each unit is priced at Ksh.65,000.
IEBC has been unable to register new voters since 2022 due to a lack of budget and commissioners. The commission remains unconstituted following the departure of its last members in 2023, and a selection panel is currently in the process of recruiting a new chairperson and commissioners.
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Kenya’s 2022 general elections recorded a voter count of 22,120,258 and ranked among the most expensive elections globally, costing Ksh.44.6 billion.
The financial planning for the 2027 elections aims to address both infrastructure improvements and increased voter participation while ensuring operational efficiency.
IEBC Demands Ksh.61.7 Billion for 2027 Elections.
