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Category: Community News

Written by Kim

President Mwai Kibaki has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to provide adequate security during the preparations and holding of general elections later in the year.

The president, at the same time, impressed upon the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to promote honesty and transparency in the run-up to the general elections for credible polls to take place.

Speaking during a meeting with the IEBC commissioners at his Harambee House office, the Head of State also assured that the government would make funds available to finance preparations and smooth elections.

The commissioners led by the chairman Issack Hassan had met the president and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to appraise the principals on the commission’s medium term programme of activities.

The chairman briefed the principals on the preparation and recent launch of the preliminary report on delimitation of boundaries of constituencies and wards.

Hassan informed the principals that his commission would require an estimated Sh9 billion to procure electronic voter registration materials and equipment among other logistics necessary in conducting the general elections.

During the meeting, President Kibaki directed the Treasury to meet the IEBC to finalise preparations for funding its operations. The president also directed the fast tracking of issuance of Identity Cards to enable youths of age to register as voters.

The commission also appraised the principals on security requirements during the planned countrywide public consultations on the recently released preliminary constituency boundaries and wards delimitation report.

On his part, the prime minister pointed out the need to have free, fair and credible elections that would make Kenya a shining example for other African countries.

In attendance during the consultative talks were Cabinet Ministers George Saitoti, Dalmas Otieno, Otieno Kajwang’, Mutula Kilonzo and Njeru Githae among senior government officials from the relevant departments.