A number of elected governors have now assumed office. Some for their second terms and others like Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior, for their first. During a live interview a day before Mutula took oath into office, he claimed that Kenya’s elections were the most expensive.
In his statement, he said, “We are a country with the most expensive elections.” Adding that it cost, “38 USD per person.”
Background
Piga Firimbi has previously debunked the claims that Kenya’s was the most expensive elections in the world. Find the fact-check here.
In the financial year 2021/22 and 2022/23, the National Treasury allocated 44.6 billion to oversee the electoral process, compared to 45 billion in 2017 and 17 billion in 2013. That’s just without the millions spent by the candidates going for the six electoral positions. This report shows, in 2017, candidates admitted that it was more expensive to run for the Senate seat than any other political seat.
The report adds that, in the same year, it cost even more for candidates to secure a ticket during party primaries than it cost during the general elections, the biggest motivator being the popularity of a party or party leader during the general election campaign.
A background study on the cost of parliamentary politics valued Kenya’s 2017 general election at 25 USD per voter.
Since the last general elections, Kenya’s cost of elections per voter has been ranging between 25 USD and 17 USD. Moreover, between 2017 and 2022, the dollar has been fluctuating, but the value has never surpassed Sh120.22.
Verification
With eight unique security features, this year’s ballot papers cost Sh3.49 billion. The tender was won by a Greek printing firm; Inform P Lykos SA. According to IEBC chair, Wafula Chebukati, it cost Ksh. 23 to print a single ballot paper, inclusive of VAT.
Additionally, having registered 22.1 million voters, it cost the commission about Sh. 2,018 per voter. The Central Bank of Kenya’s forex exchange currently values one dollar at Sh120.22. This translates to 16.7 USD as the cost incurred by IEBC on each registered voter in Kenya.
An article by Citizen Digital values the cost at Ksh. 2,000 per voter. An equivalent of 16.6 USD. Another article published by New York Times had the country’s 2022 general election at 17 USD per registered voter, 8 USD less than the 2017 polls.
It would only cost Kenya 38 USD per voter had the dollar been valued at Sh275.2. Which is not the case.
Verdict
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s claim that Kenya’s 2022 cost 38 USD per voter is FALSE.
This fact-check was produced by Africa Uncensored with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck, African Fact Checking Alliance network and the United Nations Development Programme.
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