MPs raid CHAN kitty to fund key government projects

The electoral agency has asked Parliament for an additional Sh3.8 billion to effectively conduct the repeat presidential election.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chief executive Ezra Chiloba told the National Assembly's ad-hoc committee processing the supplementary budget that the Sh10 billion Treasury had allocated for the exercise would be insufficient.

Mr Chiloba told the Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo-led team that although they had initially requested Sh12.3 billion from Treasury, resulting in the allocation of Sh10 billion, they had since realised after the ruling by the Supreme Court that they needed to improve the process, hence the request for an additional Sh3.8 billion.

The IEBC chief noted the bulk of that Sh3.8 billion, which is Sh1.8 billion, would be for the improvement of the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System.

"At the time the additional budget was negotiated with the National Treasury, the commission had not finalised its requirement on ICT improvements, partly because of the delays of the detailed Supreme Court decision," noted Chiloba.

He said the adjustment of technology devices costs had not been factored in.

He noted they had also been required to revise the training for election officials to meet the requirements of the Supreme Court ruling, especially on vote result transmission.

Chiloba further said while they had considered only two clerks per polling station for the election, they had realised they needed a third person.

This has resulted in an increase of Sh316 million for their wage requirements.

MPs queried the Sh352 million the agency requested for voter education, asking whether they really needed the money with only about 20 days to the repeat election and considering that the general election was only held in August.

Meanwhile, an MPs' committee has directed the Sports ministry to surrender Sh5.6 billion allocated to the hosting of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The team said money for the CHAN bid must be re-directed to urgent state programmes.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario and other ministry officials appeared before the committee where they were convinced to surrender monies set aside for the refurbishment of CHAN stadia.

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