The cash accessed early is meant for acquiring ballot papers
The delivery has been delayed beyond the May 28 deadline following a tendering dispute.
The IEBC had awarded the Sh2.5 billion tender to Dubai-based firm Al Ghurair last year.
MPs Thursday evening shot down the Treasury’s additional changes to the mini-budget to include Sh2.5 billion for the purchase of delayed ballot papers, throwing the preparations for the August 8 poll into disarray.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), through the Treasury, wanted to access part of the Sh22.26 billion budget for the new financial year starting July in the current fiscal period ending this month.
The cash accessed early is meant for acquiring ballot papers — whose delivery is delayed beyond the May 28 deadline following a tendering dispute.
The legislators argued that the proposals by the Treasury were unprocedural as the relevant House committee had not reviewed the additional budget item.
The MPs rejected the amendments proposed by the Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC) chairman Mutava Musyimi who wanted the House to approve the additional funds to the IEBC as well as National Intelligence Service.
Mr Musyimi unsuccessfully pleaded with MPs to approve the additional changes saying they were necessary to avoid putting the General Election in jeopardy.
'Weighty matter'
“This is a weighty matter…the danger is that the House will adjourn next week and we have only four sittings left.
“I know no other way to do this since the printing of ballot papers for the August 8 General Election must be done,” he said.
Several MPs accused BAC of sneaking in the Treasury’s request on the floor of the House without the scrutiny and approval of the relevant departmental committees.
“The issue of breaking the law doesn’t arise, the Treasury exists in perpetuity and getting into a debt of Sh2.5 billion is not an issue as they will tidy the financial books in the next financial year,” said Mr Musyimi in defence of BAC.
The IEBC had awarded the Sh2.5 billion tender to Dubai-based firm Al Ghurair last year. But a High Court judge in February cancelled it, saying it did not follow new election regulations after it was challenged by the opposition.
The Dubai firm was to deliver the ballot papers by May 28.
The tendering spat saw the IEBC remove its procurement director Lawy Aura on what it attributed to his incompetence in the purchase of the ballot papers.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi Thursday ordered the Justice and Legal Affairs committee to hold emergency talks Friday morning with the IEBC to try and resolve the budget matter.
NIS is seeking an additional Sh300 million for security surveillance and related operations ahead of the August 8 General Election. NIS has been allocated Sh900 million in the Supplementary Budget II.
Mr Muturi directed the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee to sit with NIS to explain the expenditure of Sh300 million.
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