This archive report was first published on 2 July 2019.
On June 1, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta issued an executive order directing state agencies to clear pending bills for suppliers of goods and services. However, the National Treasury has since re-allocated Sh500 million that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had earmarked to settle pending bills incurred from suppliers under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities program (AGPO).
According to IEBC, the allocation of the funds for payment of legal service emanating from its numerous court cases has rendered it impossible to comply with the executive order. The commission had set aside Sh330 million out of the allocation to settle AGPO and non-AGPO pending bills not exceeding Sh10 million per supplier, with the remaining Sh170 million earmarked for payment of pending legal bills.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati stated that the commission accrued bills totaling Sh3.9 billion during the 2017 General Election and the subsequent fresh Presidential Election, out of which Sh107.3 million was settled, leaving a balance of Sh3.8 billion.
The IEBC had allocated Sh703 million in the 2018/19 supplementary budget, with Sh500 million set aside for payment of bills owed to AGPO suppliers. The re-allocation of funds has left the commission unable to pay the pending bills.
