IEBC receives Sh5.7 billion budget boost to prepare for 2027 elections
The additional funds are expected to help the commission address critical election preparation needs, which include voter registration, electoral operations, and the long-delayed delimitation of electoral boundaries.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been allocated an additional Sh5.78 billion for recurrent expenditure in the 2025/2026 financial year, as part of a budgetary allocation aimed at preparing for the upcoming 2027 general elections.
This allocation, which was unveiled as part of the new government budget set to begin on July 1, 2025, will see the IEBC's total recurrent expenditure rise to Sh9.63 billion, up from Sh3.85 billion in the current year.
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The additional funds are expected to help the commission address critical election preparation needs, which include voter registration, electoral operations, and the long-delayed delimitation of electoral boundaries.
In a breakdown of the allocation, Sh3.35 billion has been earmarked for general administration and support services. Another Sh3.3 billion will go towards voter registration and electoral operations.
A significant portion of the budget, Sh2.35 billion, has been allocated to the Electoral Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, reflecting a notable increase from the Sh425.5 million allocated for the same purpose in the previous year.
Voter education and partnerships will also see a boost, with an allocation of Sh538.7 million, compared to just Sh36 million in the current financial year.
The budget also includes Sh46.5 million for the long-awaited delimitation of electoral boundaries, a process that has been overdue since March 2024. However, this figure is expected to rise further in the subsequent financial years.
The boundary delimitation is a critical constitutional requirement. According to Article 89(2) of the Constitution, the IEBC is required to review constituency boundaries at intervals of not less than eight years and not more than 12 years.
The last review was carried out in March 2012, making the need for an updated review urgent.
The increased allocation comes after a period of leadership instability at the IEBC, following the departure of several commissioners, including former chairman Wafula Chebukati. The commission has been functioning without a full complement of commissioners since January 2023, when the terms of Chebukati and his colleagues expired.
In the wake of this leadership vacuum, a recruitment process led by a panel chaired by Nelson Makanda is set to bring new commissioners on board, with hopes that they will swiftly assume their roles if confirmed by the National Assembly.
Looking ahead, the government plans to further increase the IEBC’s budget in preparation for the 2027 elections. The commission’s recurrent expenditure is expected to rise to Sh19.5 billion in the 2026/2027 fiscal year, followed by another increase to Sh34.9 billion in 2027/2028.
During the past few years, the IEBC faced various financial challenges, including delays in the disbursement of funds and the implementation of austerity measures. These challenges led to pending bills and the postponement of critical programmes, such as the boundary delimitation exercise and continuous voter registration.
Despite these challenges, the IEBC successfully conducted the 2022 general elections, overseeing the election of a new president, members of the National Assembly, and county officials. The commission also facilitated by-elections for various seats, including senators and county assembly members.
"During the same period, the Commission successfully conducted the 2022 General Elections, which included the election of the President, 290 Members of the National Assembly, 1,448 Members of the County Assembly, 47 County Governors, 47 Senators, and 47 County Women Members of the National Assembly. Additionally, the Commission facilitated by-elections for 2 Senators and 8 Members of the County Assembly, as well as the preparation of the draft strategic plan," read part of the Treasury report.
However, delays in funding and an unpredictable volume of election petitions contributed to outstanding bills and setbacks in the reconstitution of the commission, which impacted various electoral activities.
To address these challenges, the IEBC has repeatedly sought additional resources from the National Treasury to settle outstanding bills and reconstitute the commission.
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