Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has faulted the calls to have the proposed constitutional amendments under the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) implemented within this year.
On Monday, Siaya Senator James Orengo and his Kisii counterpart Sam Ongeri proposed that the amendments be made through a referendum later in the year.
However, Barasa has faulted the proposal, arguing that such will only subject the country, which is fresh from the census exercise, to another expensive exercise.
He pointed out that the changes be made through other avenues apart from the referendum, which he said will worsen the already ailing economy.
“Our position has always been that we just had a very expensive census a few days ago so going for a referendum, with our economy doing badly, is ill-advised,” he told the Nation on Monday.
He said if the referendum is inevitable, it should be included as the seventh ballot in the 2022 polls, to save the country the cost of going to the poll solely to hold a referendum.
“For once, people who have the capacity to decide when and how to do the referendum should stop being selfish and focus on delivery of the Big Four Agenda and what affects Kenyans first. They should hold the referendum by provision of an extra ballot box in 2022," he added.