Alarm over funds for referendum in Kenya

  1. Posted on Tuesday 6 July 2010 - 10:45
    Abdilatif
    Image of Abdilatif
    Abdilatif Maalim, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    The electoral commission in Kenya has sound an alarm it has no money to mount the August 4 referendum where Kenyans are to vote whether to take on a newly written Constitution. The electoral body told members of the parliamentary select committee on constitutional review that the two billion shillings ($25m) allocated to the commission is not enough to fully finance the expenditure of the country's referendum on the draft constitution.
    OPINION: KENYA LED BY THUGS
    The Chairman of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), Ahmed Issack said the commission requested shs4.6 billion and got only 2.6 billion in the treasury budget.

    Part of the 2.6 billion is now being spent on to respond to unexpected needs including preparation for by election in Matuga Constituency in the coast province and 26 civic by elections countrywide. Another unexpected expenditure is the registration of inmate after a dispute resolution court ruled that inmate have the rights to vote in the forthcoming referendum.

    Apart from printing ballot papers and purchasing new transparent ballot boxes, the commission will also employ over 60,000 temporary workers to assist in the referendum.

    The commission is also expected to mobilize funds for it huge budget for voter education and publicity in preparation for the exercise and it expenditure.

    The commission also has a huge budget for voter education and publicity in readiness for the exercise and high transport expenses.

    Finance Minister Uhuru Kenya presented his budget to the house last month and the latest information mean a major crisis in the offing ahead of the August 4th referendum.

    Another meeting to tackle the problem is scheduled for Wednesday in which officials from the electoral commission, and legal affairs committee is to take place. Officials from the ministry of Finance and Justice are also expected to attend.

    With the budget already read, a major crisis is in the offing as Kenyan voters prepare for the referendum, it is not clear where the funds will come from.

    It is not the first time the country treasury is in a tug of war with actors in the referendum. Kenya‘s Prime Minister, Raila Odinga was forced to come in similar situation involving funds for civic education program for the committee of experts.

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