While addressing a parliamentary committee on Tuesday, February 25, IEBC Deputy CEO Obadiah Keitany explained how the money would be used.
"We need these funds to clear pending bills, replace election materials, and pay poll officials who will be hired for the election process," Keitany stated.
Keitany revealed that Ksh7 billion has been set aside for hiring poll officials at different levels.
In the 2022 elections, IEBC employed over 500,000 temporary workers, and a similar number is expected in 2027.
"Going by the last election, we had 500,000 temporary officials, and the budget for their payment is around Ksh7 billion," he explained.
IEBC is also planning a massive voter registration exercise before the next elections.
The commission estimates that over 5.7 million new voters will be added to the register, bringing the total number of registered voters to 28 million.
"We are targeting to register an additional 5.7 million voters once the new IEBC commissioners assume office," Keitany confirmed.
A significant part of the budget will go towards upgrading election technology.
IEBC needs around Ksh7 billion to replace some of the KIEMS kits that were used in the previous election.
These kits play a crucial role in voter identification and transmission of results.
"We must replace some of the KIEMS kits to ensure a smooth and transparent election process," the IEBC official noted.
Kenya’s elections are among the most expensive in Africa and globally.
The high costs are due to the use of advanced technology and the large workforce needed to manage the election process.
For instance, ballot papers are printed by international firms with special security features to prevent fraud.
With the 2027 General Election drawing closer, the IEBC insists that proper funding is necessary to avoid election-related challenges.
The commission is now waiting for the appointment of new commissioners to begin full preparations for the polls.
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