Senators push for 100 new polling stations for Kenyans abroad
Senators want IEBC to team up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs to set up at least 100 new centres in key regions where large numbers of Kenyans live.
The Senate has renewed its call for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to boost voter participation among Kenyans living outside the country by increasing the number of polling and registration centres abroad.
Senators want IEBC to team up with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs to set up at least 100 new centres in key regions where large numbers of Kenyans live.
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Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, who is leading the initiative, said the current arrangement limits many diaspora voters from exercising their constitutional right due to the few polling stations located mainly within embassies.
“The IEBC, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, should establish no fewer than 100 voter registration and polling stations worldwide,” Onyonka said.
“These new stations should be prioritised in regions with high concentrations of Kenyans, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania,” he added.
He pointed out that during the 2022 general election, only 27 diaspora polling stations were set up across 12 countries, mostly situated in embassy cities, making it hard for many Kenyans abroad to access them.
Onyonka stressed the need to move voter registration and polling services away from embassies to community venues that are easier to reach. This would help eliminate the challenges related to distance and logistics that have discouraged many voters overseas.
In the previous elections, polling centres were located in countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, South Sudan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany. Qatar recorded the highest votes with 1,437, followed by Tanzania with 1,402, Uganda with 1,211, and Rwanda with 1,090.
The Senate’s call highlights the growing importance of the Kenyan diaspora, which contributes significantly to the economy and plays a key role in national development. Increasing the number of polling stations is expected to promote inclusivity and ensure that Kenyans abroad can more easily participate in elections.
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