“Elections at Risk”: IEBC Sounds Alarm Over Budget Slash That Could Cripple 2027 Polls and Disrupt Core Election Systems

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned that the 2027 General Election could face serious challenges. Parliament reduced its budget, approving Ksh. 57.3 billion instead of the requested Ksh. 61.7 billion.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the cut could weaken operations, reduce staff, and compromise election technology. Staffing alone uses more than half the election budget. In 2022, the commission deployed over 500,000 officials. The cuts may force a reduction in personnel at polling stations and the national tallying centre.

“Reducing the resources we need will definitely have a big impact on the elections,” Ethekon said. He warned that fewer officers could slow voting, counting, and results transmission. The commission may not achieve the needed deployment for smooth elections.

Ethekon also raised concerns over the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS). It handles Biometric Voter Registration, Electronic Voter Identification, and Results Transmission. Some kits from 2013 and 2017 are now outdated. Without funds to upgrade or replace them, election integrity could be at risk.

Voter education is another area under threat. Teaching Kenyans about their rights and the election process is costly. This is especially true because the IEBC conducts six elections simultaneously. Ethekon stressed that the commission must still meet its constitutional duties under Article 88.

Earlier, IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan said Treasury had allocated Ksh. 49.75 billion, creating a Ksh. 7.6 billion deficit. He warned this could “adversely affect” election preparations.

Despite these challenges, the IEBC continues continuous voter registration. Officials hope to prepare for the 2027 polls, even as fears grow over insufficient resources and potential disruptions to the electoral process.