Referendums in Kenya
A referendum is a national vote where citizens decide directly on proposed changes to the Constitution. It is only required for major constitutional amendments under Article 255 of the Constitution of Kenya.
Before any referendum, ensure you are registered as a voter with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Why referendums are held
Referendums are required when proposed constitutional amendments affect key national principles.
- Change of sovereignty or independence of Kenya
- Changes to the Bill of Rights
- Changes to the territory of Kenya
- Changes to devolution structure
- Changes to term limits of the President
- Changes to independence of Judiciary or constitutional commissions
- Changes to parliamentary structure or national governance framework
A referendum passes if it receives a simple majority (50% + 1) AND at least 20% of registered voters in at least half of the 47 counties approve it.
The 2010 constitutional referendum
Kenya adopted its current Constitution on 4 August 2010 after a national referendum.
| Choice | Votes | Percentage | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes (Green) | 6,092,593 | 68.55% | Passed |
| No (Red) | 2,795,059 | 31.45% | Rejected |
The referendum introduced devolution, strengthened the Bill of Rights, and restructured executive authority.
Other referendum initiatives
- Okoa Kenya Initiative (2014–2016): Failed at signature verification stage.
- Punguza Mizigo Bill (2019): Did not meet county approval threshold.
- Building Bridges Initiative (BBI 2020–2022): Declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
How a referendum is conducted
- Proposal is initiated by Parliament or citizens (popular initiative)
- At least 1 million voter signatures are collected (if citizen-led)
- IEBC verifies signatures and voter registration
- At least 24 County Assemblies approve the proposal
- Parliament debates and votes on the bill
- IEBC issues a referendum gazette notice
- Citizens vote in a national ballot
Legal framework
Referendums in Kenya are governed by constitutional and statutory law.
Constitution of Kenya (2010)
- Article 38 – Political Rights
- Article 81 – Electoral principles (fairness, transparency, inclusivity)
- Article 82 – Election legislation
- Article 86 – Voting standards
- Article 88 – IEBC mandate
- Article 255 – Referendum triggers
Statutory framework
Published: 1 June 2026 • Last updated: 1 June 2026
This information is regularly reviewed to ensure accuracy.