Catering, landlords cost IEBC Sh5.6bn during elections

Landlords and hotel owners were the biggest beneficiaries of the billions spent during last year’s General Election, with revelation that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) paid Sh5.6 billion for their services.

Data from the Controller of Budget shows the IEBC spent Sh4.7 billion on rentals in the six months to December, up from Sh81.3 million in similar period in 2016.

The poll agency spent Sh904.9 million on drinks and catering in the period under review, up from Sh75.3 billion in the same period a year earlier.

“We hired training venues in the days to the election, paid schools that acted as polling stations and tallying centres. During the period we offered our staff packaged meals and refreshments,” said IEBC spokesperson Andrew Limo.

The General Election was the most costly in Kenya’s electoral history, gobbling up Sh46.2 billion spread over two financial years when the country held two presidential elections after the initial poll was nullified due to irregularities.

At Sh5.6 billion, the rentals and hospitality budget accounted for 21 per cent of the Sh26 billion the IEBC spent during the actual election period between June and December 2017.

The prolonged election period started ahead of the August 8 General election shot up the agency’s budget, compelling the Treasury to hand it an additional Sh12 billion in a supplementary budget.

The Supreme Court nullified the August 8 poll over irregularities, compelling the IEBC to seek additional funds to prepare for the October polls.