Parties' registrar to get more funding ahead of 2027 polls

As the country hurtles towards 2027 General Election, the office of the Registrar of Political Parties has received a Sh213.2 million boost in the new budget.

According to the budget estimates tabled before the National Assembly last week, the Anne Nderitu-led office will get Sh1.93 billion in recurrent expenditure, representing a Sh213.2 million increase from the current year’s allocation of Sh1.72 billion.

The billions will be channeled towards the funding of political parties (Sh1.42 billion), registration and regulation of political parties (Sh494.6 million), and a further Sh14.04 million for partnerships and civic education. 

The allocations are set to increase to Sh2.08 billion in the 2026/2027 financial and later Sh2.15 billion in 2027/2028.

The war against graft also got a major boost with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission getting Sh4.36 billion for the financial year beginning July 1. This marks a Sh165.8 million increase compared to this year’s Sh4.2 billion.  

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The money is earmarked for the investigation of 1,310 corruption and economic crime cases, finalising 300 files on ethical breaches on high impact cases and 255 assessed on compliance of declaration of income, assets and liabilities.

Additionally, the commission will trace and recover corruptly acquired assets valued at Sh19.2 billion, while the agency is expected to reach 90 million people to create public awareness, conduct 27 system reviews and 600 advisories on bribery, and assess 210 institutions on implementation status.

“To achieve this, 440 integrity officers and a total of 1200 learners will be sensitized, and 30 institutions supported on implementation of gifts, donation and conflict of interest,” reads the budget statement.

Some of the high profile cases and arrests in the recent past include that of Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and his predecessor Ferdinand Waititu.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is set to receive Sh51.4 billion, a reduction from Sh55 billion.

In the subsequent years, the allocations are, however, set to increase to Sh55,67 billion in 2026/2027 and Sh63.3 in 2027/2028.

At the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, an allocation of Sh4.18 billion will suffice, marking a Sh38.7 million reduction from this year’s recurrent budget. Allocations will rise to Sh4.9 billion and Sh5.25 billion in in 2026/2027 and 2027/28 respectively.

“In the fiscal years 2025/26 to 2027/28, the ODPP will enhance its public prosecutions services programme. This enhancement will prioritise the prosecution of corruption cases, expedite the processing of investigative files, facilitate support for victims and witnesses, and fully operationalise the Prosecution Training Institute, nationwide rollout of the Uadilifu Case Management System, and building prosecutors' capacity to handle emerging crimes."

Further, the witness protection agency will also receive Sh841,206,825, up from Sh723,134,000.[Josphat Thiongó]

In the coming financial the medium-term, the Agency anticipates effectively managing an average of 150 witnesses, each accompanied by approximately five related individuals.

The Agency will strategically allocate resources towards the admission of threatened witnesses, the maintenance and management of witnesses, the provision of testimony in courts of law, the resettlement and reintegration of witnesses, and the enhancement of institutional capacity to support the programme.