Kenyans abroad demand right to vote in poll

Kenyans in the diaspora want to be involved in decisions on the country’s political process to ensure their rights are safeguarded.

They said they would not acknowledge the work of any taskforce set up by the government or ambassadorial offices without their direct participation. (READ: Battle on for Diaspora vote in race for top job)

In a three-hour meeting on Sunday, participants vowed they won’t be left out of Kenya’s political process and resolved to ensure that the civil rights of Kenyans living abroad were not violated.

The meeting was conducted via Skype and telephone connections and brought together more than 100 diaspora leaders and organisations from the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia and several others.

No representatives

In a statement by Mr Peter Kerre of New York on behalf of the group, the leaders noted that they had no representatives in the taskforce set up last month to determine how Kenyans abroad were going vote.

They noted that the diaspora brings in more foreign exchange into the Kenyan economy than the tourism industry and it would be unacceptable if the government was to shut them out.

On February 1, a team was set up to determine how Kenyans living abroad will vote in the coming General Election. It is made up of representatives from the Justice, Finance and Immigration ministries, and the Offices of the President and Prime Minister. (READ: Plan to let Kenyans abroad vote no easy task, says minister)

Organisations representing Kenyans abroad were to be part of the team.

“We contribute heavily towards the economy, yet they do not want us to participate fully in the political framework”, one participant said.

The leaders agreed to create a joint diaspora force that will ensure participation in any taskforces set up on the voting process, stating that there were many of them qualified to sit on the panels. (READ: Team set up to decide how Kenyans abroad will vote)

The Kenyans also stated that they are ready to explore all options including legal action to ensure Kenyans abroad voted electronically.

The group noted that there are more than three million Kenyans abroad and denying them their constitutional right to vote will be unfortunate and must be challenged.

The meeting was coordinated by the Kenya Diaspora Alliance and was joined by other organisations which included the Diaspora Movement of Kenya, Kenyans for Change, New Vision Kenya-Mageuzi, Kenya Global Unity, Kenya Pro-Democracy Movement, Kenya Diaspora Voice, Kenya Diaspora Vote (Facebook Group), among others.