Kenyans abroad to sue over voter listing rights
A voter casts her ballot during a past election. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will make a final decision on whether Kenyans in the Diaspora will vote
What you need to know:
- On Wednesday, various diaspora groups were up in arms over Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa’s declaration that it would be a logistical nightmare to have Kenyans in the diaspora register and even vote from abroad.
- US-based lawyer Henry Ongeri termed Mr Wamalwa’s declaration an insult to Kenyans in the Diaspora.
- The Justice minister on Tuesday told Parliament that the Cabinet had seen it “not practical” to have diaspora voting due to the logistical, financial and time constraints on the IEBC.
- Kenyans for Change chairman Hebron Mosomi also condemned the move to lock them out of the polls, terming it an insult to the Kenyan diaspora.
Kenyans in the diaspora have threatened to return to court to compel the electoral commission to register them as voters.
This came as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced it would reach a final decision on Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, various diaspora groups were up in arms over Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa’s declaration that it would be a logistical nightmare to have Kenyans in the diaspora register and even vote from abroad.
“We cannot allow impunity and selfishness to hinder our rights. We will meet in court with IEBC in the next few weeks, if they cannot (register those in the diaspora) then they are not ready to push forward the elections,” Rev Stephen Mburu, the vice-president of the Kenyans in the UK Sacco, told the Nation on phone.
US-based lawyer Henry Ongeri termed Mr Wamalwa’s declaration an insult to Kenyans in the Diaspora.
The Justice minister on Tuesday told Parliament that the Cabinet had seen it “not practical” to have diaspora voting due to the logistical, financial and time constraints on the IEBC.
Kenyans for Change chairman Hebron Mosomi also condemned the move to lock them out of the polls, terming it an insult to the Kenyan diaspora.
On Wednesday, IEBC chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan told reporters in Nairobi the commission would make its own analysis of the situation to reach a decision.
At the same time, Kenya’s ambassador to the US Elkanah Odembo has said he was yet to receive any communication from the IEBC regarding plans for diaspora voter registration.
“I have received absolutely no communication whatsoever... I’m completely confused,” he said.
He spoke as the National Church Council of Kenya (NCCK) said the Cabinet’s decision to lock out Kenyans in diaspora from taking part in the coming elections was sending the wrong signals to voters.
“We want efforts to be made to ensure all Kenyans are given the chance to exercise their democratic right to vote,” said NCCK general secretary Peter Karanja in Limuru yesterday.
Additional reporting by Kevin J Kelley and Leonard Mutinda
