The BBI signatures verification exercise is set to begin after the National Treasury approved the Ksh. 93,729,800 budget.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said it is now ready to begin hiring data entry clerks, conference facilities and accommodation.
“The Commission resubmitted budgets based on four scenarios, the highest being Ksh. 241,011,000 as submitted earlier and the lowest being Ksh. 93,729,800 mainly based on non-residential verification clerks. Subsequently, the National Treasury made an allocation of Ksh. 93,729,800 to the Commission for the exercise. The Commission will therefore proceed with the verification exercise accordingly,” IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati said on Friday.
Based on the approved budget of Ksh. 93,729,800 and the submitted signatures which were 4.2 million it therefore means it will cost an average of Ksh 22.30 to verify each and every signature.
He averred that discussions were held between the National Treasury and the IEBC on cost rationalisation given the constrained fiscal space.
Chebukati explained that the budget was premised on providing full accommodation to all verification personnel.
The arrangement, he said, is to prevent exposure to COVID-19 due to daily commuting of personnel using public transport and compliance with curfew restrictions.
The Commission received the Constitutional Amendment Bill and 4.4million BBI signatures on December 10, 2020.
IEBC is required by law to undertake verification of the supporters to ensure compliance with the requirements of Article 257 (4) of the Constitution of Kenya.
Meanwhile, DP William Ruto has insisted that Kenyans must be given time to peruse the BBI report before voting through multiple questions that he proposed.
According to him, there is still room to amend the report to accommodate various disgruntled groups.
He was speaking on Friday at the home of Malava MP Malulu Injendi in Kakamega county where met other leaders from the area.
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