Amended law will push IEBC budget beyond Sh19bn

The amended Act limits the number of voters per polling station to 500 voters which increases the number of polling stations from 33,000 to 56,000/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 14 – The Amended 2006 Elections Act will affect the 2017 General Election Budget of Sh19.8 billion according to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

IEBC Communication and Public Affairs Manager Andrew Limo said the new law will also affect the timelines of IEBC’s preparations but not the date of elections.

“The review entails adjustments are within the existing timelines and does not call for an extension of the General Election date of August 8, 2017. However it will call for additional funding to the 19.8bn,” he stated.

The amended Act limits the number of voters per polling station to 500 voters which increases the number of polling stations from 33,000 to 56,000.

The limitation to 500 voters per station also calls for an increase in the number of clerks to be employed and equipment required for voting in the additional 23,000 polling stations not envisaged in the Sh19.8 billion budget according to IEBC.

Due to the changes, Limo announced that the commission will soon release the additional costs it has to bear due to the amended 2006 Elections Act upon completion of its ongoing analysis of the new law.

Apart from the budget implication, the amended law which came into effect on October 4, 2016, will also affect other the Election Operation Plan (EOP) of the election preparation.

“Key activities are the timeline for Mass Voter Registration (MVR) and the inspection of the register of voters which have now been pushed to February next year to allow for the audit of the register,” Limo explained.

Though the amendment on the electoral laws had an impact, Limo explained that the changes ‘do not necessarily introduce radical changes to the existing EOP timelines.’

He explained that IEBC would continue engaging with different key players to help address the changes brought about by the new law and ensure all plans are according to the EOP.

About The Author

JUDIE KABERIA

Judie, an Associate Editor has worked as a journalist in Kenya and Germany. She has a Master’s Degree in New Media, Governance and Democracy, University of Leicester (U.K). She has scooped 10 journalistic awards. She has participated in international conferences in Germany, Switzerland, United States and Netherlands. Judie has written a booklet, ‘Justice and Peace in the Kenyan Eye’. She has a soft spot for human rights, crime, peace and justice stories.

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