- The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) IEBC deputy CEO Obadiah Keitany however told MPs on Thursday that they have initiated payments to poll officials and various suppliers of goods and services.
Image: IEBC
The electoral agency owes county suppliers, service providers, and election officials Sh1.949 billion for services rendered during August 9, 2022, General Elections and subsequent by-elections, it has emerged.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) IEBC deputy CEO Obadiah Keitany however told MPs on Thursday that they have initiated payments to poll officials and various suppliers of goods and services.
“As of April 4, 2023, the commission had outstanding exchequer requests from the National Treasury amounting to Sh4.362 billion. This amount includes Sh1.949 billion requested on various dates from October 3, 2022,” he stated.
Keitany had appeared before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to explain to members why poll officials in the Bungoma Senatorial by-elections have not been paid to date.
The Deputy CEO said a total of Sh263.8 million is owed to Bungoma County, of which Sh119.6 million relates to payment of polling officials while Sh144.2 million is due to suppliers and service providers during the August 2022 General Election and the subsequent senatorial by-election.
Keitany assured MPs the outstanding amount will be settled when the exchequer is released.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
“We, therefore, request for the intervention of the committee for the release of Sh4.362 billion in order to pay the General and by-election service providers across the country,” he added.
He noted that in case the outstanding exchequer is not funded within the current financial year, the amounts will be reversed from the payment system and will therefore translate to pending bills of an equal amount.
“This may consequently attract additional charges in form of interest and litigation costs due to delayed payments. Moreover, the commission will not have any additional funds for the payments. The affected suppliers may also withhold critical services due to delayed payments,” he stated.
Following the revelation, committee chair George Gitonga said they will invite the National Treasury to shed light on the matter.
“You want money but it might not be there. We have to sit down with officials from the National Treasury to understand the situation. We cannot promise you by word of mouth that you will get the money,” he said.
Kanduyi MP John Makali wondered why IEBC was asking for their intervention without demonstrating they have been asking National Treasury to release the funds.
“You are asking for our assistance, what steps have you taken yourselves?” he posed.
Keitany said the commission has been writing to the National Treasury requesting that the funds be availed to them.
“We have been writing to them, calling and even visiting their offices to have the money availed. It is not like we have been sitting comfortably doing nothing,” he added.
In Bungoma, officials who oversaw the Senatorial by-election have not been paid a single cent.
They include the presiding officers, deputy presiding officers, and clerks.
Kanduyi MP John Makali said it was regrettable that four months after rendering their services, the Bungoma poll officials are yet to get a coin.
“The poll officials are ordinary people and some of them were planning to pay school fees with the money,” he stated.
Keitany said IEBC officials in Bungoma are going through difficult times trying to explain to poll officials why they have not been paid.
“The poll officials come to our offices all the time asking for their money. Staff in these offices sometimes run away,” he added.