Referendum on creation of powerful PM post to cost Ksh.10B

A quest to amend the Constitution and introduce the office of a Prime Minister is projected to cost the taxpayer Ksh.10 billion through a referendum.

Tiaty Member of Parliament Kassait Kamket, who is behind The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2017 told the Parliamentary Budget Committee that the finances required to run the Prime Ministers office will be equal to the the current budget of the office of the president.

The Bill proposes for the formation of a powerful Prime Minister and a limitation of the authority of the President who, if it passes, will only serve a fixed one seven year term. Kamket also proposes for the scrapping of the Deputy President’s position.

The Tiaty legislator told the committee that even with the high referendum price tag, the cost of the subsequent election will go down by 25%.

“The cost of the 2017 election was Ksh.45 billion and after a successful referendum, the 2022 election will cost Ksh.33 billion,” he said.

According to the Bill, the Prime Minister will be the leader of government business and will be a member of the National Assembly.

“The President shall only serve as the Head of State, Commander In-chief of Defense Forces and chairperson of the National Security Council as well as symbol of national unity,” reads the Bill.

It also proposes for the composition of the current Senate to be made up of one man and one woman elected by the Members of County Assembly.

“This will make it a total of 94 members alongside six members representing the youth and persons with disabilities,” it reads.