Kenyans in the diaspora have asked the electoral commission to register voters living outside the country electronically and adopt e-voting for the March 4 elections.

The group has set up a website, which they say can facilitate e-voting and online registration of voters.

The website www.kenyansabroadvote.com has been designed with tools to enable Kenyans abroad to register as voters online.

US-based Kenyan lawyer Henry Ongeri said on Tuesday the commission must adopt e-voting and online voter registration as it was convenient and affordable. (Read: Confusion over voter registration in Diaspora)

“Registering electronically is the only feasible and reasonable method of giving Kenyans in the diaspora a reasonable opportunity to participate in elections. Given the geographic spread and time-zones, an electronic format allows the convenience and accuracy that manual systems cannot,” he told the Nation.

Secure method

Mr Ongeri argued that while Kenyans were able to send money securely through mobile phones, the commission was resistant to an e-voting method.

“It is ironic that while Kenya is celebrated for such innovations as M-Pesa, we cannot seem to embrace ICT for the most important exercise of all — general election,” he said.

Mr Ongeri argued that while Kenyans were able to send money securely through mobile phones, the commission was resistant to an e-voting method.