IEBC receives Sh560m to support voter registration

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has received Sh560 million as a grant from the European Union (EU) to support electoral processes ahead of the mass voter registration exercise set to commence on Monday.

Speaking at the signing of the grant received through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), IEBC Chair Issack Hassan said the funds are still not enough to conduct the full voter registration.

Hassan said the commission would use the funds to conduct civic education through the media and other UN bodies willing to partner.

He is now appealing to the National Treasury to give more funds to the commission to ensure the mass voter registration exercise goes on smoothly, freely and fairly.

Hassan added that the poll body would soon meet all governors to seek their facilitation in the crucial voter listing exercise.

IEBC had previously said it was ready for the mass voter registration exercise that targets 4 million new voters, saying it targets 8 million more voters as compared to those registered in 2013.

In 2013, a total of 14,337,399 voters were registered but only 12,330,028, an 86 percent representation, voted. A total of 108,975 were invalid.

The voter registration exercise will be carried out in two phases with the first phase in Kenya set to begin on February 15^th, 2016 and end on March 15^th, 2016.

The voter registration exercise will take place in all county assembly wards except where there are election petitions or by-elections.

In January next year, IEBC will publish and gazette the voter registration centres and officials in charge of the exercise.

In the second phase of the voter registration exercise, voters in the Diaspora will take place between March 10th and 24^th, 2017.

The voter registration will be suspended on May 10^th, 2017 and afterwards the voter register published for inspection.

Certification of the voter register will be done on June 19^th, 2017 and the elections will be held on August 8^th, 2017.