The Acting C.E.O of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Hussein Marjan has said that Kenya will need Sh14 billion to conduct the BBI referendum.
Hussein who spoke on Wednesday when he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee at the National Assembly also revealed that IEBC has already listed the requirements for the plebiscite and is ready for the referendum.
"It will cost Sh14 billion though we are still fine tuning." Hussein said.
The electoral body considered the 19.6 million voters which has increased given the continuous voter listing exercise.
This comes after IEBC unveiled its own reforms, days after the Building Bridges Initiative report recommended its overhaul before the country gets to 2022 polls.
The same report will also see the country's executive expanded and wage bill ballooned. BBI is proposing the creation of a Prime Minister's office and two deputies.
If the BBI report is adopted through the Sh14 billion shilling referendum , the senate will be expanded to 94 members and National parliament to 360 members playing duplicated roles.
IEBC in its report to parliament wants the number of commissioners reduced from the current seven to five, including the chairperson. The IEBC also expressed opposition to BBI's proposal to allow political parties to nominate commissioners arguing that it will be a drawback on their independence. “Political parties' interests are sufficiently catered for in the vetting process since the selected commissioners are approved by the National Assembly,” the report reads in part.
The report that aims to amend the 2010 constitution was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta at Bomas of Kenya on Monday.
The BBI report also enjoys sycophantic backing of the president's handshake partner Mzee Raila Odinga who believes that creation of more seats at the top will solve the question inclusivity.