Thursday, January 12, 2012

Taxpayers to fork out Sh9 billion for polls



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The chair person Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission Ahmed Isaack Hassan launches the preliminary report on the first review of the delimitation of IEBC on January 9, 2012. at the KICC. PHOTO I JENNIFER MUIRURI
The chair person Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission Ahmed Isaack Hassan launches the preliminary report on the first review of the delimitation of IEBC on January 9, 2012. at the KICC. PHOTO I JENNIFER MUIRURI  
By  PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, January 11  2012 at  22:00
IN SUMMARY
  • IEBC chairman says the huge budget is meant for electronic voter registration equipment
The electoral commission requires Sh9 billion to adequately prepare for this year’s General Election.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Isaack Hassan told President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga that the money would be used to procure material needed for electronic voter registration and other equipment.
It will also be used to put in place the necessary logistics to ensure the elections run smoothly.
Mr Hassan and other IEBC commissioners had paid a courtesy call on the two leaders to brief them on the commission’s medium term programme of activities.
The commission’s request for the funding comes on the eve of a landmark ruling by the High Court on the date of the elections.
The commission has previously argued that an August 14 election date would make it difficult for it to conduct the polls smoothly.
On more than one occasion, Mr Hassan has supported calls to hold the elections in December but also assuring that the commission would go out of its way to conduct the polls on any other date determined by the court.
During the meeting at Harambee House, President Kibaki assured the commission that the government would provide funds for the preparations of peaceful elections and instructed the Treasury to liaise with the electoral agency in its plans for the polls.
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The President also directed Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ to fast-track the issuance of national identity cards so that all Kenyan adults take part in the elections.
The electoral commission appraised the leaders on security requirements during the planned countrywide public consultations on the recently released boundaries and wards delimitation report.
Mr Odinga stressed the need to have free, fair and credible elections that would make Kenya a shining example for other African countries.

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