ReliefWeb

President Mwai kibaki has reaffirmed his government commitment to provision of adequate security during the preparations and the actual general elections later in the year.

The President, at the same time, impressed on the Independent Elections 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 will avail funds to finance the preparations and smooth elections.

The Commissioners led by the chairman Mr. Ahmed Issack Hassan had met the President and the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. 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.

Mr. Hassan informed the principals that his Commission would require an estimated ksh 9 billion to procure electronic voter registration materials and equipments among other logistics necessary in conducting the general elections.

During the meeting, the President directed treasury to meet the IEBC to finalize preparations for funding its operations. The President also directed the fast tracking of issuance of Identity Cards to enable youth 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 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 Prof. George Saitoti,Dalmas Otieno, Otieno Kajuang',Mutula Kilonzo and Njeru Githae among other senior government officials from the relevant departments.