Treasury rejects Sh3.9bn IEBC bills

The Treasury has rejected a request of Sh3.9 billion that the electoral agency has put forward for pending bills arising from the last General Election, mostly claims by lawyers.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said lawyers and legal firms were demanding more than Sh2 billion in legal fees.

“The commission requested funding from the Treasury in the Supplementary Estimates II to cater for pending bills carried forward from the last financial year and related to 2017 Election.

“The National Treasury has responded indicating that the pending bills request will not be included in the 2018/19 supplementary budget II. The commission has appealed this decision,” IEBC acting chief executive Marjan Husein Marjan told Parliament.

Mr Marjan said legal firms are owed Sh1.16 billion in validated legal fees and a further Sh81.2 million in validated legal fees pending judgment at Supreme Court.

He said a further Sh469,555,016 had been validated but is pending payment while another Sh659.9 million validation is subject to negotiations. Mr Marjan said a further Sh18.5 million in validated legal fees is pending at the counties.

The commission owes suppliers Sh1.5 billion in validated pending bills already processed but awaiting exchequer release.