NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 3 – The Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) has assured it is ready for the upcoming referendum on the Proposed Constitution.
Chairman Issack Hassan told journalists on Saturday that the Treasury had approved a budget of Sh4.6 billion for the exercise expected within the next 90 days.
"The Chief Electoral Officer has told me that Treasury has promised the funds are in the supplementary budget to be passed by Parliament later this month," he said.
Pressed more about the logistics of the exercise he said, "We will cross that bridge when we reach there."
Parliament approved the proposed law last Thursday without amendments heralding the next stage of the review process. The Attorney General now has 30 days to publish the document in readiness for the referendum.
After the AG publishes the draft, the commission shall have a 60-day deadline during which to conduct the referendum.
The commission is currently conducting fresh voter registration in time for the exercise. Mr Hassan said the IIEC had so far registered three million voters by the close of the second week.
The commission, he said, hoped the process would be boosted by the Easter holiday and Thursday’s passage of the draft Constitution by Parliament.
"Despite the logistical and transport challenges I think we are on course and we will be able to register as many Kenyans as possible," he said.
"We have been given enough resources and we are able to finish this exercise satisfactorily."
He spoke when he closed a workshop for senior clerks from 18 constituencies which will undertake the pilot electronic voter registration (EVR) starting April 12.
The Commission is targeting to register 1.5 million Kenyans under this trial modern system.
"This technology requires to be rolled to across the country and hopefully after we complete this pilot the commission can replicate it across the country and have an electronic register in readiness for the 2012 general election," he emphasised.
Constituencies earmarked for EVR include Langata, Kamukunji, Nyeri town, Kikuyu, Ikolomani, Webuye, Eldoret North, Ainamoi and Nakuru Town.
Others are Mvita, Malindi, Dujis, Wajir East, Mbooni, Isiolo South, Central Imenti, Kisumu Town West and Bonchari.
The fresh registration of voters will continue for the next month and close in early May.
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