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Kenyan Official Warns Lack of Funding Threatens Referendum

   Peter Clottey 05 July 2010

   The  chairman  of  Kenyaâs  Interim  Independent  Electoral Commission
   (IIEC)  told  VOA insufficient funds could derail the electoral bodyâs
   mandate   to   organize   the  scheduled  4^th  August  constitutional
   referendum.

   Ahmed  Isaack  Hassan  said  the Ministry of Finance failed to provide
   adequate funding needed for the electoral body to conduct the upcoming
   referendum, despite repeated appeals.

   âToday,  we  had  a  meeting with the parliamentary committee on legal
   affairs  and,  of course, explained that, until we get the full amount
   we  require,  we  will  not  be able to hold the referendum on 4^th of
   August,â he said.

   Kenyaâs  parliamentary  Committee  on  Legal  Affairs  has  reportedly
   summoned  the  finance  and justice ministers, as well as officials of
   the  electoral  commission,  to resolve any problems that could derail
   the upcoming referendum.

   Kenya's  post-election violence prompted demands for state institution
   reforms

   The  electoral  commission  estimates  that  it needs Sh4.6 billion ($
   56,440,332)  in  order  to  be able to organize the vote. But, Kenyaâs
   treasury only provided Sh2.6billion ($31,886,033) for the referendum.

   Kenyans are scheduled to decide whether to accept or reject a proposed
   constitution in the 4^th August referendum.

   Analysts  have  said  Kenyans demand for reform could be undermined if
   the electoral body is incapable of organizing the referendum.

   Kenyans,  as  well as the international community, demanded reforms of
   state  institutions following the 2007 post-election violence that led
   to the loss of life and destroyed property.

   Chairman  Hassan  said  Kenyans  will  not  be  pleased if the lack of
   adequate funding derails the referendum.

   âI  donât  think it will be something that we will all be happy about.
   And,  I do not think that we will not get the funding that we require.
   I think, after the meeting with the relevant government ministries, we
   should be able to get the full funding we require. Because, I think it
   is  absolutely  inconceivable  that we could come this far and then do
   not  get  the  last  requirement for the funding to complete the job,â
   Hassan said.

   He  further  said  that  the  electoral  body has already procured the
   ballot  boxes,  as  well  as  the  ballot  papers,  and other relevant
   materials,  including  the training of electoral officials, needed for
   the 4^th August referendum.

   Kenyaâs  media  quoted  Attorney General Mutula Kilonzo as saying that
   the  Finance  Ministry  (or  the treasury) has often failed to provide
   adequate  funds  for created commissions, including the Truth, Justice
   and  Reconciliation  Commission,  as well as the National Cohesion and
   Integration  Commission tasked with carrying out specific functions on
   behalf of Kenyans.

   Electoral  commission chief Hassan also said that the finance ministry
   has  been  suing  for  the power of the purse to control the electoral
   body.

   âWe  have  been  having  problems  with  the treasury from the time we
   started the voter registration exercise because of the large amount of
   money  we  require  to  be  able  to execute our mandate. We have been
   having  serious challenges from treasury on the issue of the financial
   independence of the commission,â Hassan said.

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