Electoral body to get Sh1.8bn boost from the EU

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will not be receiving additional money from the European Union, the EU delegation to Kenya said.

The EU said it had already promised to support the electoral body to a tune of 10 per cent of its total budget -Sh17.5 billion- which the Treasury had allocated.

IEBC is therefore set to receive Sh1.8 billion from the EU in support of its activities. The commission has however insisted that the funds provided to it by the Treasury is insufficient to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

IEBC had initially sought Sh41 billion as the amount required for a free poll but latter reduced it to Sh35 billion after the Treasury and Parliament rejected the figure.

READ: Pressure mounts on electoral body to trim its budget

It later scaled down its budget to Sh25 billion which has not been granted although some donor organisations have injected Sh2.2 billion boost to the commission’s budget.

EU head of the delegation, Ambassador Lodewijk Briet said it was ready to work hand in hand with the IEBC to achieve its mandate of overseeing the elections in a bid to achieve free, fair and credible results. Adding that "it is upon the people of Kenya to ensure the elections herald a new beginning for the country."

Speaking after they paid House Speaker Kenneth Marende a courtesy call, Mr Briet said there talks centred on a number of issues including the implementation of Schedule Five of the Constitution, the coalition government and their support for the coming elections.

The union, which brings together 27 countries, however said it had no interest in whosoever becomes the fourth president of the country.

“Ours is to deepen relations with this country not to impose a leader on you,” said Mr Briet.

Deliver mandate

The EU expressed satisfaction with the country’s electoral body noting that they were upbeat that the team would deliver on its mandate.

“IEBC has so far has shown that it is capable of handling the elections, we have no doubts in their performance,” said Mr Briet.
The delegation asked the country’s leadership to ensure that it plays its role to ensure credible elections.

Commenting on the raging controversy on the tendering of biometric voter registration kits, Mr Briet said that EU has a strict procurement process and expressed confidence that the commission will address the matter.

The standoff is however threatening to derail the General Election as processes such as the registration of voters which was slated to commence in mid June has been pushed to September.