Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Elections Observation Group (ELOG) has called on Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct post-election financial audit at the commission.

In its post-election report, the group said the cost of elections in Kenya is one of the highest in the world and remains a concern in view of the vulnerability of the economy, the budgetary constraints, and the competing development and public spending priority needs in the country.

“For the 2022 elections, the cost of elections in Kenya stands at Kshs.2,000 (USD.200) per vote, slightly lower than the Kshs. 2,500 (USD.250) per voter in 2017.

“This is by far beyond the internationally recommended benchmark of USD. 5 per voter. This cost is not sustainable in the long-term and furthermore, it undermines the value of democratic processes and institutions and consequently is a threat to democracy and good governance.

“ELOG believes that the staggering costs of elections could be reduced significantly through innovative approaches in procuring and using election materials, resources, and services,” the group said.

It further urged the commission to identify what is costly in the election process and use innovative means to cut down the cost.

“The IEBC should work towards identifying and reviewing high-cost drivers and take measures towards reducing and minimizing them to affordable levels and to avoid wastage.

“Staggering the elections could also help in reducing the high stakes and suspicion around elections, which could in turn reduce the costs associated with the costly security marks and protocols on the ballot papers,” the group stated.

ELOG recommendations

ELOG also recommended that costly security details on the ballot papers could be reduced if IEBC invests in building trust and confidence amongst the public and political players.

“Enhanced trust and confidence in the IEBC and electoral processes could also support consensus building and political goodwill towards the printing of ballot papers and other critical election materials locally in Kenya to reduce costs, after all, the printing of the Kenyan currency is undertaken locally in Kenya.

“ELOG also urges the IEBC to conduct a transparent and accountable post elections financial audit and make the report public to enable Kenyan taxpayers to come to terms with the spiraling cost of elections and assess value for money in the enterprise,” it said.

At the same time, ELOG said IEBC should embark on collecting evidence-based data on the drivers and factors that breed public apathy and make citizens disinterested in and disillusioned with political and electoral processes.

“This will enable the IEBC to craft and implement tailor-made responses and solutions that could improve and promote citizens’ interest, engagement, and participation in these key democratic processes.

“The level of apathy, especially amongst the youth and women, that characterized voter registration drives and voter turnout in the 2022 elections was concerning and will require concerted action by the IEBC and other electoral actors and stakeholders to engage and improve,” the group observed.

Further, ELOG said IEBC should improve and strengthen internal party governance and democracy to promote inclusivity and increase the participation of all members, especially the special interest groups.

“Despite current court rulings, political parties need to develop firm affirmative action policies within the constitutional framework to support the participation of special interest groups such as women and PWDs.

“Review internal constitutions and rules especially the elections and nomination rules to promote good governance and transparent and accountable internal party processes including elections of party officials and nomination of candidates for elective positions.

“This includes keeping and using bonafide members registers for critical decision-making activities such as party nominations,” it added.

The observer group further recommended that IEBC should work with stakeholders including elected Members of Parliament to support progress towards operationalization of the Campaign Financing Act and the two-thirds gender rule.