Kenya to spend Sh49 billion in August 8 General Election

The National Treasury has released a report stating that the country is going to spend Sh 49 billion in the August 8 General Election.

According to a pre-election fiscal report 2017, the overall budget allocation of the General Election for 2017 is Sh 49billion composed of Sh27 billion which was allocated and disbursed in 2016/17 and Sh22 billion in 2017/18.

Preparation for the polls involves compilation of the voters register, political parties preliminaries, procurement of the strategic election materials and draft of election regulations.

Other stages being funded by the Sh49 billion budget are the undertaking of the election, possible presidential run off and the swearing in of the elected leaders.

The Sh22 million allocated in the 2017/18 financial year excludes the Sh2.5 billion provided in the 2016/17 budget set aside for printing ballot papers.

Also included in the budget are government ministries, departments and agencies such as the IEBC, State Department for Interior, National Intelligence Service (NIS), Registrar of political parties, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Judiciary.

Others include the Presidency, National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Immigration and Registration of Persons departments.

The IEBC being the principal agency in charge of elections has been allocated Sh42 billion. This is more than the Sh36 billion it was allocated in 2013 to carry out elections.

At the time, the March 2013 General Election was considered the most expensive election for the country as it was the first under devolution.