IEBC seeks Ksh74bn for 2027 polls

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has requested Ksh74 billion from the National Treasury in order to fund preparations for the 2027 General Election, driven primarily by the increasing number of registered voters. IEBC Commissioner Dr Ann Nderitu revealed that the budget proposal adheres to legal requirements and factors in major expenditure categories such as election technology and ballot papers.

The proposed budget allocates Ksh10 billion towards acquiring new election technology, while Ksh6.8 billion is allocated for ballot papers. The primary factor contributing to the rising costs is the growth in registered voters, as stated by Nderitu. As the 2027 General Election preparation progresses, the commission is also procuring new election technology and materials.

IEBC plans to replace and upgrade key election technology, with the overhaul anticipated to cost over Ksh10 billion. Tenders have been issued for an Integrated Elections Management System and related hardware, as well as ballot papers, tactile folders, the voters' register, and statutory election result declaration forms. The technology upgrade aims to support voter identification and the electronic transmission of election results.

With the projected increase in registered voters, the commission has also increased the number of polling stations from 46,229 in 2022 to 55,393 for the 2027 election. However, there are concerns about the available resources for IEBC to carry out the full election program, with an estimated shortfall of Ksh22.94 billion and a broader three-year election budget gap of more than Ksh33 billion.