IEBC Dismisses Raila's Sh2 Billion Referendum Budget, Says Exercise to Cost over Sh10 Billion

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has differed with ODM leader Raila Odinga over how much it would cost to hold a referendum.

Last month, Odinga insisted a referendum to introduce changes to the 2010 constitution will be held before the 2022 general election, saying the exercise should cost the taxpayer no more than Sh2 billion.

“A referendum does not have to cost billions…It’s because of corruption in this country that elections cost us over Sh40 billion. A referendum does not need to cost more than Sh2 billion…there is money to do it, and we’re going to teach Mr. Chebukati [IEBC chairman] how to do it,” said Odinga.

But on Friday, IEBC Commissioner Boya Molu termed Odinga’s estimate as impractical, saying at least Sh10 billion is required to organize and hold a referendum.

"I may not be able to give you exact figure but going by the last presidential repeat elections, a referendum will not cost less than Sh10 billion," Molu said.

He added:" On election day you hire not less than 50,000 vehicles and you cannot get a vehicle for less than Sh10,000. We also have to hire 350,000 poll officials on election day. You must transport all of them and feed them for some days.”

Odinga and President Uhuru are pushing for a referendum through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which resulted from their March 9th, 2018 handshake. 

The two are soon expected to receive a final report from the BBI taskforce, which will pave the way for the referendum.