Kenyan parliament has rejected a proposal by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to increase funding for the 2027 General Election from Sh43 billion to Sh63 billion.
The commission presented its budget policy statement on Tuesday, stating that the additional funds were required to meet key operational costs. It projected Sh12.4 billion for staff wages and Sh6.9 billion for voter registration.
A further Sh6.2 billion was allocated for replacing Kenya Integrated Election Management System (Kiems) kits, the electronic devices used to verify voters. Commission officials said that most of the 45,352 kits currently in use are obsolete and must be replaced.
Only 14,000 devices acquired in 2022 remain usable, though each would require upgrades costing Sh175,000. Members of Parliament rejected the request, maintaining that the Treasury’s allocation of Sh43 billion is adequate.
They instructed the commission to provide expert evidence demonstrating that the existing kits cannot be reused before approving any new purchases. The commission also projects an increase in polling stations to 55,393 in 2027, up from 46,229 in 2022.
Despite this expansion, the limit of 700 voters per station is expected to remain in place to reduce congestion and improve efficiency on polling day.
The commission maintains that technological upgrades and expanded access are necessary to ensure credible polls, while legislators are seeking to contain public spending amid fiscal constraints.
