Karua Criticizes IEBC’s Ksh61B Election Budget, Demands Independent Audit

Martha Karua, leader of the People’s Liberation Party, has sharply criticized the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for its proposal to allocate Ksh61 billion for the 2027 General Election, calling it an inflated and unjustifiable budget. In a local television interview on Wednesday night, Karua argued that the proposed sum would make Kenya’s elections among the most expensive globally.

Karua described the Ksh61 billion request as “budgeted corruption,” claiming it was an example of mismanagement and a waste of public funds. “Kenyan elections are more expensive than any other elections in the world,” she stated, questioning the legitimacy of the proposed budget.

The opposition leader also challenged professional bodies, including accountants and auditors, to independently review the IEBC’s budget, arguing that an audit by private organizations was necessary to ensure transparency and accountability. “Why doesn’t the professional body of accountants audit this? Why can’t private bodies do it?” she asked.

Karua further criticized the IEBC for the poor execution of past elections, which, she noted, had been marred by controversies and numerous petitions. She emphasized that despite the high cost, past elections had not been conducted to the expected standard, casting doubt on the effectiveness of the proposed budget.

Additionally, Karua condemned the government’s new policy requiring citizens to pay Ksh1,000 for national identification cards. She argued that the policy violated constitutional rights and unfairly burdened young people who turn 18. “It is not a crime to attain the legal age. Cut wasteful spending and provide ID cards free of charge to all those who turn 18,” she added.