Kenya PM assures on referendum cash

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said funds will be made available to enable the Interim Independent Electoral Commission conduct the referendum smoothly.

He said the referendum would not experience the delays faced by the Committee of Experts, which received funding eight days to the end of the time allocated for civic education.

“There will be sufficient money for the IIEC to conduct the referendum,” he said in response to a question by Garsen MP Danson Mungatana.

According to the Budget Policy Statement presented to Parliament before it went on recess, the referendum is expected to cost Sh9.9 billion. 

Also, no action will be taken on ministers and other government officials who oppose the proposed constitution, said Mr Odinga. Roads assistant minister Wilfred Machage thumped his feet as this was said. He is in the No camp.

Matter of conscience

Mr Odinga said supporting or rejecting the constitution is a matter of conscience but wondered that MPs had chosen to oppose it yet it passed without any amendments.

He, however, said they will not be victimised and will be given full protection as they go about their campaigns.

Among MPs opposed to the proposed constitution are Higher Education minister William Ruto, Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto and Mr Machage.

The PM spoke during the time allocated to him every Wednesday afternoon to address MPs as well as to field their questions on a wide range of issues.

He said the government was under obligation to popularise the proposed constitution ahead of the August 4 vote as it was one of the key agreements at the formation of the coalition government.

“The government is under the obligation to implement decisions of this House and this is one of the most important resolutions of this House,” said the PM.

He said it was on this basis that President Kibaki and himself had decided to spearhead the campaigns for the ratification of the proposed constitution.

Last leg

The new law was unanimously approved by Parliament on April 1 and the referendum is the last leg of the process that has so far cost the government Sh7 billion.

Mr Odinga said no allocations had been made for the review process during last year’s Budget and this amount was secured by making savings and shelving projects.

The PM said constitutional reform is the most important part of the Agenda IV items agreed at the signing of the National Accord in March 2008 and later worked out by the Serena team.

Mr Odinga said the IIEC would deal with election-related violence during the campaigns.

Asked about events in South Mugirango, where there was violence during by-election campaigns this week, the PM sought to absolve ODM of blame.

He said a rival party had attempted to attend a rally at the same spot ODM had just held theirs, prompting a stand-off and the subsequent violence.