Treasury orders poll team to slash budget
What you need to know:
- The November 8 memo has documented the National Treasury’s proposed budget cuts as having included demands to drop plans for emergency airlift of election materials.
The National Treasury has ordered the electoral commission to cut its election budget which could paralyse planning for 12 upcoming by-elections.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries has suspend its by-election plans pending a review of the order.
An internal memo by acting finance and procurement director Jason Akoyo has asked managers to suspend any plans for mini-polls until an agreement is reached between the commission and the National Treasury.
“This will enable the commission to avoid incurring bills,” Mr Akoyo says in the memo.
The commission was planning for the Lamu governor and Lunga Lunga parliamentary elections set to be held on December 2.
Bungoma senatorial, Bomachoge Borabu and Nyaribari Chache parliamentary by-elections, slated for December 19, may also be affected by the Treasury order.
The November 8 memo has documented the National Treasury’s proposed budget cuts as having included demands to drop plans for emergency airlift of election materials.
Further it directs the commission not to procure vehicles for emergency services, and that security be provided on the tallying day only.
The commission’s temporary staff, including those hired to supervise the elections, will not be provided with meals.
Further the Treasury has also proposed the freezing of per diems normally paid to regional officers, constituency returning officers and their deputies during the by-elections.Presiding officers, their deputies and election clerks will not be reimbursed transport expenses.
The secretariat has suggested an urgent meeting between chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan and Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich.
