IEBC locks out diaspora voters

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has ruled out registering voters living in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and any country outside East Africa ahead of the March 4 General Election.

Commission chairman Issack Hassan said on Saturday that only Kenyans who live in the five East African Community countries will have a chance to cast their votes for aspirants of their choice.

Mr Hassan said that unpopular as the decision was, it had been informed by time and resource constraints.

“We have agreed to begin the process of diaspora voter listing with Kenyans in the five countries that make up the East African Community bloc,” he said.

The East African Community is made up of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

But presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth expressed disappointment in the Cabinet’s decision to lock out Kenyans living abroad. (Read: Kenyans abroad to sue over voter listing rights)

In a statement, the Gatanga MP said the IEBC is an “independent constitutional commission which should not take instructions from any other quarters”.

Mr Hassan defended the IEBC decision citing time and money shortage.

“Much as we are an independent body, we have agreed with the Cabinet advice on logistical challenges that would not have made this possible,” he said.

The Cabinet rejected a request by the commission to register Kenyans abroad.

Mr Hassan had proposed that the voters cast their ballots at the consulates and embassies in the countries they live.

He said he had written to President Kibaki and East African Community minister Musa Sirma, inviting the government to assist them roll out a voter listing programme within the allocated time.

Mr Hassan said the commission would embark on an ambitious listing exercise to ensure Kenyans abroad vote online in subsequent elections.

“Any other election after the 2013 one will see those patriotic Kenyans cast their votes from their countries of residence,” he said.

He asked the voters in the diaspora to be patient.

“There is no need for them to threaten us with court action and other forms of intimidation. They need to understand that our hands are tied and, if we were to push ahead with fulfilling their wishes now, it would be below their expectations, something we do not want to do as a credible body,” Mr Hassan said.