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Kenyans will know the referendum question at the end of this week before the symbols are unveiled in two weeks time.

A closed door meeting between the Interim Independent Electoral Commission and Parliamentary Select Committee on legal affairs Monday afternoon resolved that IIEC frames the question by Friday and also come up with symbols to be used in the referendum exercise.

"The meeting has resolved that IIEC frames the question and symbols which by law (Constitution of Kenya Review Act Sec. 37) must be published within seven (7) days of the publication of the draft constitution" said IIEC chairman Isaac Hassan.

This means IIEC has up to Wednesday May 12th, 2010 to frame and gazette the question and symbols.

The symbols will however not be or resemble those of the 2005 referendum.

Hassan further said the eagerly awaited referendum date will be announced in two weeks time.

In 2005 Kenyans were asked; are you for or against the ratification of the new proposed constitution?.

The proponents of the proposed laws were given a Banana while those opposed were given an orange as symbols.

The law mandates IIEC to hold a referendum within 90 days after the publication of the proposed set of laws.

The commission which is now searching for symbols is seeking the help of Kenyans on its website.

IIEC says it wants simple, neutral and easy to distinguish symbols.

It further says the symbols should not resemble with those of registered political parties and should not also be an orange or a banana as was the case in the 2005 referendum.