Broke IIEC seeks Sh70m for by-elections

By WALTER MENYA wmenya@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, March 28 2011 at 22:00

In Summary

• Poll agency appeals to Treasury to release funds for Ikolomani and Kamukunji contests

The fate of the forthcoming by-elections in two constituencies hangs in the balance thanks to a cash crunch at the Interim Independent Electoral Commission.

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By-elections in Ikolomani and Kamukunji constituencies are slated for May 23. However, IIEC yesterday said it had run out of cash and appealed to Treasury to release Sh70 million for the exercise.

“We don’t have money for the by-elections much as we have set the date,” IIEC chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan told a news conference at the commission’s offices on Monday.

He spoke when he issued writs for Ikolomani constituency to Returning Officer Benjamin Tarus.

“We have exhausted money for by-elections,” the commission chairman said, adding that his team had conducted many by-elections.

Since its establishment in 2009, the commission has conducted nine parliamentary by-elections. Seven of these took place between July last year and last month, all falling in the 2010/11 Financial Year.

They include Matuga, Starehe, Makadara, Juja, Wajir South, South Mugirango and Kirinyaga Central constituencies.

IIEC also conducted by-elections Bomachoge and Shinyalu constituencies in 2009.

According to Mr Hassan, each by-election costs about Sh50 million. This translates to approximately Sh350 million that the commission set aside for by-elections in the current financial year.

“We will be engaging with Treasury very soon and we hope that they will release the funds we need as a matter of urgency so that we can conduct these elections,” he said.

The commission estimates that Ikolomani and Kamukunji will each gobble up Sh35 million.

At the same time, IIEC wants to be enjoined in a case filed by the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) to seek the opinion of the Court of Appeal, sitting as the Supreme Court, on the saga of the date of the next General Election.

“We are prepared for the August elections or even earlier. In the meantime, we have decided to consult with CIC to remove any doubts on the date because we feel it is very important for Kenyans to know the date in good time,” he said.

While CIC has stated that the next General Election will be held on August 14, next year, some MPs argue the elections should be held in December.

During Monday’s ceremony, IIEC announced that political parties wishing to take part in the Ikolomani by-election will have between March 28 and April 21 to conduct primaries.