IEBC asks for Sh1 billion more

Kenya: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) wants Treasury to allocate at least Sh1 billion for continuous voter registration.

IEBC Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager Tabitha Mutemi said the Sh1 billion is an addition to the Sh52 million already allocated for voter mobilisation and awareness creation at the constituency level.

“We want those who failed to register before the last General Election and those turning 18 to register,” said Ms Mutemi.

The exercise comes barely weeks after the commission did a post-election evaluation following criticism from the opposition and other civil organisations.

Mutemi clarified the difference between fresh voter registration and continuous voter registration, citing that currently, the country has a voters’ register that was compiled last year, adding that the registration process that started on April 15 would continue.

She said IEBC should be commended because out of the 188 court petitions, only a paltry 25 were finally heard and determined while 163 were thrown out due to lack of merit.

“Only 25 have been determined and in the ones that resulted in a by-election, the same people were re-elected,” said Mutemi.

Already, IEBC returning officers are on the ground mobilising eligible voters but financial constraints are hampering the exercise.

The commission hopes that by May 2017, a total of 20 million new voters will have been registered and their data captured in the voter register ahead of the General Election.

Eligible voters

But for the commission to realise the figure and avoid the hitches experienced in 2013, Mutemi has asked all eligible voters to ensure they obtain national identity cards in time and register as voters.

“Kenyans like the last-minute rush. We are appealing to all eligible people to collect their IDs and register as voters before 2017. We had some hitches last time, but now we have adequate time for the exercise,” said Mutemi.

To improve the outcome of the next General Election, the commission wants some laws governing elections amended to remove existing ambiguity.