MPs Demand IEBC Report on KIEMS Kits Before Approving Budget
Members of Parliament have placed strict conditions on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before approving a Ksh6.7 billion budget meant for the purchase of new Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits.
Lawmakers are raising concerns over the status of the 45,000 KIEMS kits already in existence, as their current condition remains unclear.
This demand follows the approval of IEBC’s funding request by the National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC), chaired by Tharaka MP George Murugara, despite initial reservations.
The matter was brought to light when Murugara’s committee informed the National Assembly Liaison Committee about the approval during discussions on the 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDS).
“During the presentations, the Chairperson of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, Hon. George Murugara (Tharaka), apprised Members that his committee has considered a request by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for Ksh6.7 billion meant for replacing the KIEMS Kit,” a statement from the National Assembly read in part.
As part of their conditions, the JLAC committee has directed the IEBC to assess whether the existing KIEMS kits are still functional. Additionally, the commission must submit an expert report within three months to verify claims that the devices will not be reliable for the next general elections.
“The committee has instructed the Commission to submit an expert report in three months on the usability and salvage value of the existing 45,000 KIEMS kits,” the statement added.
This development comes shortly after the IEBC informed Parliament that it requires Ksh61 billion to fund the upcoming 2027 General Elections.
While appearing before a parliamentary committee, IEBC Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Obadiah Keitany confirmed the budget estimate, stating that part of the funds would be used to register an additional 5.7 million voters. This would increase the total number of registered voters to 28 million by the next elections.
Keitany further explained that the money would also cover various election-related expenses, including boundary delimitation, KIEMS kit replacements, staff allowances, ballot paper transportation, and other operational costs.
“The commission projects an additional 5.7 million new voters to have a total of 28 million in the 2027 election,” Keitany stated.
According to the IEBC, Kenya requires a total of 59,352 KIEMS kits for a seamless election process. Reports indicate that the existing kits have a lifespan of up to 10 years, but if they need to be replaced, the total cost is projected at Ksh7 billion, given that each kit costs approximately Ksh65,000.
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MPs Demand IEBC Report on KIEMS Kits Before Approving Budget
