Kenyans abroad want to elect MP

Kenyans in the diaspora are demanding an opportunity to elect a representative to Parliament.

They have consequently asked the Committee of Experts to include a clause in the harmonised draft constitution allowing for the creation of an “Abroad Constituency”.

Speaking on behalf of the Kenyan Community Abroad, Mr John Maina, said it was impractical to ask those in the diaspora to travel to their rural areas to vote.

“It is physically impossible to have more than a million people to travel to Kenya once every five years to vote,” said Mr Maina.

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“If we contribute so much to our gross domestic product, and we keep Kenya going when donors are pulling out, we certainly need to be represented in the August House.”

According to Central Bank of Kenya statistics, Kenyans in the diaspora channelled close to Sh47 billion back home in 2008 alone, while between January and March, last year, they sent close to Sh12 billion.

Mr Maina said several countries had implemented the idea, including Britain, India and Nigeria.