NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Treasury has allocated Sh168.6 million for the purchase of vehicles for the seven newly appointed commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), according to supplementary budget estimates submitted to Parliament of Kenya.
Revised spending estimates show the electoral agency’s allocation for the purchase of vehicles and other transport equipment has increased significantly from Sh5.6 million in the original budget to Sh174.2 million for the financial year ending in June.
An additional Sh1.3 million has been allocated for routine vehicle maintenance, which was not included in the initial budget proposal.
New Commissioners Assume Office
The funding comes after the swearing-in of the new IEBC commissioners on July 11, 2025, marking the start of a new leadership team at the electoral agency.
The commission is chaired by Erastus Edung Ethekon, with Fahima Araphat Abdallah serving as vice chair.
Other members of the commission include Ann Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, and Francis Odhiambo Aduol.
Their appointment followed approval by a three-judge bench of the High Court of Kenya, after which Martha Koome, the Chief Justice of the Judiciary of Kenya, administered the oath of office.
The commissioners will serve a six-year term overseeing Kenya’s electoral processes, including preparations for the next general election cycle.
Broader Increase in Government Vehicle Spending
The IEBC allocation is part of broader adjustments within the government’s supplementary budget, which significantly increases spending on transport assets across state departments.
Overall, allocations for vehicle purchases across 16 government agencies have risen from Sh165.4 million in the approved budget to Sh780.4 million in the revised estimates.
Vehicle maintenance spending across 34 government departments has also more than doubled, increasing from Sh500.7 million to Sh1.12 billion.
State House Among Major Beneficiaries
The revised estimates show the State House among the biggest beneficiaries of the increased vehicle spending.
Its allocation for vehicle purchases has jumped from Sh6.85 million to Sh147.85 million, while the Executive Office of the President has seen its allocation rise from Sh60.5 million to Sh166.5 million.
Vehicle maintenance spending at the State House has also surged from Sh136.3 million to Sh533 million, marking one of the largest increases in the revised budget.
Allocations Across Other Departments
Several departments that previously had no allocations for vehicle purchases have now been included in the revised budget.
These include the Mining Department, which will receive Sh71.2 million; Correctional Services, Sh26.28 million; and Broadcasting and Telecommunications, as well as East African Community Affairs, each receiving Sh26.77 million.
Additional allocations include Sh16 million for Parliamentary Affairs and Sh8 million for the Culture, Arts and Heritage Department.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service records one of the largest increases in maintenance spending, rising from Sh198.2 million to Sh316.8 million, reflecting growing operational demands in policing and security nationwide.
However, the revised estimates also show reductions in maintenance allocations for some departments, including Foreign Affairs, Lands and Physical Planning, and Broadcasting and Telecommunications, as Treasury adjusts spending priorities across the public sector.
