The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has raised concerns over a major funding shortfall as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Election, urging the National Treasury to increase its budget allocation.
With less than 14 months remaining before Kenyans head to the ballot, the electoral agency says the resources currently allocated are insufficient to facilitate key election activities. The commission had submitted a budget proposal of Ksh74.8 billion to support voter registration, election technology, logistics, civic education, and staffing requirements.
However, Parliament approved Ksh41.3 billion, leaving the commission with a funding deficit of Ksh33.5 billion. The allocation represents just over half of the amount requested by the electoral body.
Led by Chairman Erastus Ethekon, the commission is expected to present an election financing framework to Parliament next Thursday in a renewed effort to secure additional funding.
According to the IEBC, the 2027 polls are likely to be more expensive than the 2022 General Election due to a projected increase in polling stations nationwide. The commission estimates that polling centres will rise from approximately 46,000 in 2022 to about 55,000 in 2027, requiring more election officials, equipment, and logistical support.
A substantial portion of the budget has been allocated to election technology. The commission plans to spend Ksh9.3 billion on replacing 45,353 Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits and procuring an additional 5,000 backup devices.
Ballot paper printing and statutory election forms are expected to cost Ksh2.7 billion, while voter registration and biometric data capture exercises have been budgeted at Ksh2 billion.
To manage election operations across the country, the IEBC intends to spend Ksh5.7 billion on recruiting and paying temporary election workers. The commission has also allocated Ksh400 million for an independent audit of the voters’ register, a process aimed at enhancing transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
Other planned expenditures include Ksh438 million for the acquisition of operational vehicles and Ksh1.5 billion for transporting election materials and personnel across the country.
The commission is further seeking Ksh1.7 billion for voter education, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to counter misinformation ahead of the polls.
The latest budget proposal marks a notable increase from the commission’s February 2025 projection, which had placed the estimated cost of the 2027 General Election at approximately Ksh61 billion.