The Commission participated in the Kenya Editors’ Guild 4th Annual Convention held in Naivasha from 2 to 4 December 2021. During the convention, Marjan H. Marjan, IEBC’s Ag CS/CEO, made a presentation on 2022 General Election Preparedness.
Marjan observed that the Commission had received an additional Ksh 8.7 billion from National Treasury to fund the conduct of 2022 General Election. “The additional funds will be used for the second round of Enhanced Continuous Voters Registration (ECVR) and registration of voters in diaspora, which is set for January and February in 2022,” he said.
So far, the Commission conducted ECVR exercise in all the 1,450 Wards from 4 October 2021 to 5 November 2021, with a total 1,519,294 eligible Kenyans being enrolled as voters. In addition to Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and South Africa, IEBC plans to extend diaspora voter registration exercise to 7 more countries namely: United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, South Sudan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Germany.
Marjan added that the Commission is in the process of sourcing for an independent audit firm to inspect the register of voters. Voters will also be able to inspect and verify their registration details in the Register of Voters, at least sixty (60) days before the 2022 General Election.
The Commission has already put in place the process of procurement of 2022 General Election materials, equipment and services. “The Commission intends to ensure that the procurement of these items is concluded by 31 December 2021,” noted Marjan.
The Commission continues to sensitize stakeholders and the public at large on election timelines contained in the Elections Operations Plan and electoral processes. The Commission has since held fora with political parties, youth, persons with disability, diaspora alliances, faith based organisation, civil society organisations, special interest groups among others. Marjan underscored the need for collaboration between the Commission, media and other stakeholders in the delivery of its mandate.