The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has indicated that the 2017 General Election could be held concurrently with the Opposition's Okoa Kenya referendum, making it more expensive.
Speaking to the press on Thursday, IEBC Chairman Issack Hassan noted that he had urged the National Treasury to release more funds to cater for the two processes.
Hassan said that after 90 days, the commission would complete the verification of signatures made for the Okoa Kenya campaign, to determine whether a referendum would be held.
The IEBC Boss officially announced that the next General Election would be held on August 8, 2017, adding that the date was in line with the constitution, which dictates that elections be conducted on the second week of August.
Mr Hassan stated that from February 14 to March 15, 2016, the commission would conduct the voter registration exercise targeting 4 million new voters.
“IEBC is in the final stage in finalizing diaspora voter registration policies and will start registering Kenyans in diaspora as soon as that is done,” he said.
IEBC retained the original date set in the constitution despite a section of leaders insisting that it be pushed to December.
The commission sought advice from the Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC) and the Law Society of Kenya, which in August advised that changing the dates would affect the presidential term.
This comes as a blow to ODM MP David Ochieng who was seeking to have the polls' date changed from August to December.
The Legislator was arguing that August was too crowded with activities for elections to be held, citing the school calendar and the high tourist season during the period.
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