CRA warns of budget crisis if polls are held in March

By David Ochami

The Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA) wants the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to change the General Election date to December.

CRA has argued holding elections in March will disrupt the annual budget for the county and national governments and could stall devolution.

The commission further said the election date would "adversely" affect the calendar of Parliament, including budget making.

But IEBC and the Treasury have dismissed these arguments and instead called for a meeting with CRA to determine how the next budget cycle can be planned to fit in the election date and especially if the outcome is delayed to May next year incase of a presidential run-off.

CIOC Chairman Abdulkadir Mohamed briefs the Press on the recommended Report on the election date at Intercontinental House, Nairobi, Tuesday. [Photo: Moses Omusula/Standard]

Meanwhile, the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) has defended IEBC’s choice of March 2013 election date. CIOC Chairman Mohamed Abdikadir said on Tuesday that IEBC’s decision was compelled by the court ruling and dictates of the Elections Act, which impose definitive time lines.

He claimed the court ruling on the election "has to be obeyed even if (the ruling) is wrong."

On Tuesday, CIOC convened a meeting of interest groups including the Law Society of Kenya, CRA and the IEBC to discuss what Abdikadir described as "the controversy over the elections date".

He said IEBC’s decision was defensible because "they were in a position where they had to give a date".

But CRA said holding elections next year would precipitate a constitutional crisis that could delay opening of the next Parliament if the provision of the third gender rule for elective seats for women is not fulfilled.

Delay appointment

CRA Chairman Micah Cheserem said: "We therefore recommend that IEBC should be convinced to reconsider the election date and bring it forward to December 2012."

He said the new Constitution decrees that Budget making must begin two months before the end of the new financial year, which in Kenya’s tradition is April.

Cheserem said the budget cycle would spill into May and June if polls are held in March leading to further delay in the appointment of Cabinet Secretary in charge of Finance. This, according to Cheserem, would further complicate and delay preparation of the budgets for the national and county governments and passing the Appropriation Bill for adoption by Parliament before end of June.

"The key person that manages the Budget is the Cabinet Secretary for Finance. The process of nominating, approving and appointing the Secretary may be long," said Cheserem referring to the March date.

He further said convening Parliament will be delayed to May by the process of nominating MPs for special seats to the National Assembly, which in turn will delay establishment of Committee of Parliament.