As of now, there is no law to be used in the event of a referendum
Issues discussed included the streamlining of existing laws on election financing and the boundaries review process
Parliament’s Justice and Legal Affairs committee has set the stage for a national referendum on constitutional amendments.
It has prepared a bill that will provide the legal framework to govern the process. Committee chairman William Cheptumo declined to divulge its content but pledged that it will be tabled in Parliament "just soon".
Yesterday, the committee met IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and other commissioners to get their input on referendum.
“We are not here to organise a referendum … It is upon Kenyans to make that decision. We are only trying to put together a legal framework to guide the process should Kenyans decide to hold one,” Cheptumo said at Whitesands Hotel, Mombasa.
He said the country does not have a law to be used in the event of a referendum. The IEBC briefed them on what should be done.
Chebukati said the issues discussed included the streamlining of existing laws on election financing and the boundaries review process expected to be carried out by the agency in March next year.
Cheptumo said although the 11th Parliament passed a law guiding how political parties and candidates spend financial resources during campaigns, the law raised a lot of questions and controversy, hence the need for a review to enable it to conform with the expectations of all players.
“We want a smooth running of a referendum in the event we have one. Referendum talk has been rife in the recent past. Also, we have to amend existing laws to ensure we manage the next elections prudently,” Chebukati said.
The IEBC chair said the commission is prepared to conduct a referendum once relevant laws are in place, adding that it is legally constituted in line with the Constitution.
“We have received documents and signatures from the Thirdway Alliance Party, which we will act upon once we have relevant laws in place,” he said.