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The exchequer shuts the door on new voting technology, demanding the electoral body fix its reputation before asking for billionsx

In a move that sets the stage for a potential crisis in the 2027 General Election, the National Treasury has flatly rejected a multi-billion shilling request from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for a technological overhaul. The Treasury, led by PS Chris Kiptoo, has cited a "public trust deficit" as the primary reason for denying the funds, effectively telling the electoral body that money cannot buy credibility.
The IEBC had requested over KES 7 billion to replace the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits, which it argues will be obsolete by 2027. They also sought a total war chest of KES 61 billion to conduct the next polls. The Treasury's refusal to fund "advanced voting technology" is a stunning vote of no confidence from within the government itself.
The Treasury’s stance reflects a broader fatigue with the cycle of expensive procurement followed by disputed results. The 2022 election, while upheld by the Supreme Court, was marred by the "opaque" split in the commission and lingering questions about the transmission of results. The Treasury argues that pouring more money into hardware without fixing the "software" of institutional integrity is a waste of resources.
"We cannot continue to have the most expensive elections in the world with the lowest trust levels," a source at the Treasury disclosed. "The IEBC needs to show us how this new tech will differ from the old tech that allegedly failed."
The implications of this standoff are severe:
As the clock ticks towards August 2027, the stare-down between the Treasury and the IEBC puts the country’s stability on the line. The government is essentially gambling that it can conduct a budget election in a high-premium political environment. It is a high-risk strategy that could save billions today but cost the country dearly tomorrow.
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