KIHARU MP,IRUNGU KANGATAs BILL SEEKS TO SLAP REFERENDUM LOSER WITH THE FULL COST. July 29, 2014. A spanner has been thrown by Jubilee into the Cord referendum works that could stumble the Opposition’s push for a popular vote, if it passes through Parliament and becomes law. An Elections Act (2011) Amendment Bill, crafted by a Jubilee Member of Parliament, seeks to punish Cord with paying the full cost of the referendum in case it is defeated at the vote. Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata wants the losing side in the referendum to bear the costs incurred during the exercise, meaning that if Cord flops at the ballot, it could find itself picking a Sh8 billion bill that is the estimated cost of the plebiscite. But if the government side loses, it would not be slammed with the costs since it was not the initiator. Kang’ata yesterday wrote to the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, giving his intention to amend Section 52 of the Elections Act (2011) to stipulate that the referendum costs that would be incurred during the exercise are taken care of by the referendum committee or persons, other than the government, calling for it should the results be a No vote. “Where a referendum is held as a result of initiation by persons other than the government, members of the referendum committee championing a Yes vote will bear the costs incurred by the commission to hold the referendum, in the event that the results of that referendum return a No vote,” he said. However, Cord reacted sharply, seeing the amendment proposal as a move to cripple its agitation for a referendum. Reacting to Kang’ata’s move, Cord Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo described it as one of many hurdles being laid on their way by the Jubilee Alliance to block them from moving ahead with the referendum bid. Recover cost “We are aware of such plots, but we are sure of overcoming. Kang’ata is not acting alone, but has been sent, a fact that does not bother us much.We know they are leaving nothing to chance to ensure our push is scuttled,” Jakoyo said. Kang’ata said the rationale behind the proposal was to deter initiation of frivolous referendum calls as well as to help the State to recover costs expended in the exercise. The amendment Bill will also provide for a procedure and forum for fair assessment of expenditure to avoid exorbitant tabulation of cost.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 14:26:08 +0000