IEBC Says Raila’s Sh2 billion Referendum Proposal Cost Impossible, Gives New Figure

Weeks after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga estimated the cost of carrying out a referendum at Ksh2 billion, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has come out to dismiss the figure, saying that the cost is imposiible.

Raila during the recent swearing-in of ODM’s National Election Board and Disciplinary Committee members said the Building Bridges Initiative referendum should not cost more than Sh2 billion.

Raila went further to insist that the referendum must be done before the 2022 general elections since the country has all the resources required for the exercise to successfully take place.

However, IEBC Commissioner Boya Molu on Friday said it will cost not less than Sh10 billion to carry out the exercise in the country.

Molu who spoke during commemoration of the international day of democracy hosted by Centre of Multiparty Democracy Kenya said going by the last presidential repeat elections, a referendum will not cost less than Sh10 billion.

According to Molu, the commission needs to hire not less than 50,000 vehicles on election day, and it is impossible for them to get a vehicle for less than Sh10,000.

He said the commission will also need to hire 350,000 poll officials on election day.

The officials include Presiding Officers and their deputies, clerk’s, at least two police officers for every polling station.

“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.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,” Molu was quoted by a local daily to have said.