Referendum to Cost Kenyan Taxpayers Sh12 Billion

A referendum will cost Kenyan taxpayers an estimated Sh12 billion, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati says.

Speaking to the Standard, Chebukati said the electoral agency is ready to carry out a third referendum but noted that it's yet to be officially appraised about the vote.

“So far the commission has only been notified by various promoters of their intentions to collect signatures and to draft amendment Bills. We have not yet been seized of any referendum documents,” Chebukati said.

Parties interested in the referendum must collect at least one million signatures from Kenyan registered voters and present them to the electoral commission as per the law. IEBC will then verify the authenticity of the signatures and proceed to conduct the vote if the threshold has been met.

Chebukati said the exercise, if it goes through, will cost the Kenyan taxpayer an upwards of Sh12 billion.

“On the issue of how much, we are informed by the cost of the repeat presidential election of October 26th, 2017, which cost Sh12 billion.” he divulged.

The electoral commission Chairman said he will be writing to the National Treasury requesting for facilitation of the budget when needed.

He expressed confidence in the IEBC's capability in conducting the referendum even as a section of politicians call for the reconstitution of the commission.

Kenya has previously held two referendum votes; in 2005 and 2010. In the 2005 vote, those opposing it carried the day while the "Yes" side emerged victorious in the 2010 referendum, ushering in the current Constitution.