MPs Raise Alarm Over IEBC’s Costly 2027 Election Budget

Members of Parliament have sharply questioned what they describe as an inflated budget proposed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the 2027 General Election.

Lawmakers expressed shock after the electoral agency requested more than Ksh1 billion for meals, terming the overall spending plan excessively high. In its submission, the IEBC indicated it needs Ksh63.9 billion to successfully conduct the 2027 polls.

While appearing before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of Kenya, IEBC officials presented a detailed budget that immediately drew tough questions from MPs.

At the centre of the concerns was a request for Ksh1.1 billion to cater for meals for poll officials on election day. Legislators noted that the commission did not provide a clear breakdown explaining how the food costs would reach such a large figure.

Transport and Logistics Costs Questioned

MPs also scrutinized several other major expenditure items. The commission plans to spend:

Ksh5.9 billion on printing ballot papers
Ksh3 billion on transport
Ksh4.9 billion on logistics for election materials

Lawmakers indicated that some of the figures appeared unusually high and demanded further justification.

Technology and Equipment Expenses

According to the IEBC, additional funds are needed to support election technology and infrastructure. The commission is seeking:

Ksh1 billion for results transmission
Ksh3.9 billion for systems upgrades
Ksh6.2 billion to replace KIEMS kits

The agency revealed plans to replace 45,352 KIEMS kits, despite the election requiring 59,352 devices in total.

Other Planned Expenditures

The budget also includes:

Ksh776 million for hiring tents and sound systems on election day
Ksh560 million for managing party primaries
Ksh500 million for auditing the voter register
Ksh305 million for bulk SMS services
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IEBC Defends Budget

Despite the concerns raised, the electoral body urged MPs to approve the proposed allocation, arguing that the funding is necessary to ensure a smooth and credible 2027 General Election.

The parliamentary committee is expected to continue reviewing the figures before making its final recommendations.