Taxpayers suffer losses despite poll cancellation

Isaac Hassan

By ROBERT NYASATO

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has revealed that the taxpayer has lost millions of shillings despite the cancellation of the Lamu and Lunga Lunga by-elections.

A total of Sh93 million had been budgeted for the two by-elections that have now been cancelled by the Court of Appeal.

While many people would assume that this money has been saved following the court’s decision, the electoral body says the bulk of the cash has already been spent on preparing for the polls.

IEBC Vice Chair Lilian Mahiri-Saja yesterday told The Standard that the electoral body had spent funds on recruitment and training of election officials, transport, security, printing of materials, booking tallying halls and in the nomination exercises.

“We have spent a lot on preparations, including printing ballot papers, which arrived yesterday (Wednesday),” Mahiri-Saja said.

IEBC had allocated Sh32 million for the  Lunga Lunga parliamentary by-election, where five candidates had been cleared to contest.

Way forward

A further Sh61 million was set aside for the Lamu gubernatorial race between Governor Issa Timamy and the petitioner, Hassan Twaha of Kanu.

The IEBC official said the commission was yet to decide on the way forward including whether the candidates, who had spent a lot of money on campaigns and clearance by the IEBC, would be refunded.

“The Directorate of Finance is working on the actual funds so far spent on the aborted polls to enable the commission decide on the way forward,” said Mahiri-Saja.

IEBC Chairman Hassan Isaack said the electoral body had set aside Sh400 million to facilitate the mini-polls countywide, including the cancelled ones.

The taxpayer will lose millions of shillings following last-minute cancellation of the two by-elections.  Initially successful election petitions had occasioned the two mini polls.