According to SR, the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC), a Kenyan government agency, is seeking Sh45 billion (roughly $440 million) in order to finance its activities during the next general elections in 2017.
From left: Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission vice chair Lilian Mahiri-Zaja, Vice CEO Betty Suguna, Chairman Isaac Hassan and CEO Ezra Chiloba
However,
IEBC is currently plagued with allegations of corruption. As recently as last week the organization came under fire for allegedly accepting bribes from the British company Smith and Ouzman Ltd in return for a contract to print ballot papers.
The scandal, which was investigated by a British agency called the Serious Fraud Office, went all the way to the IEBC boss Ahmed Issack Hassan.
Mr. Hassan has denied the allegations and is also under investigation by the Kenyan Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
If the funds IEBC is requesting are granted the Kenyan 2017 elections could prove to be the most expensive in African history.
Speaking to the Kenyan newspaper, Professor David Kikaya, who teaches at the United States International University-Africa, expressed doubt the a higher cost will produce more democratic results.
“I don’t think more financial resources guarantee good elections. IEBC spends more on elections than its peers in Africa, and elsewhere, but we need to ask yourselves why they are not doing better than them,” Kikaya stated.
From left: Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission vice chair Lilian Mahiri-Zaja, Vice CEO Betty Suguna, Chairman Isaac Hassan and CEO Ezra Chiloba
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