NAIROBI, Kenya — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced plans to expand diaspora voter registration to 16 additional countries ahead of the 2027 General Election, in a move aimed at broadening political participation among Kenyans living abroad.
The new jurisdictions include Saudi Arabia, Botswana, Oman, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland (Bern), the Netherlands, Ghana, Italy, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ireland, Türkiye, Ethiopia, China (Guangzhou), and Mozambique.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers, IEBC acting Chief Executive Officer Moses Sunkuli said the expansion is guided by population thresholds, operational feasibility, cost considerations, and the constitutional requirement for progressive realisation of political rights.
“The Commission will expand registration and voting to additional countries with substantial Kenyan populations,” Sunkuli told MPs, noting that the approach will also incorporate mobile registration centres to reach more voters.
The IEBC plans to deploy mobile units in high-density diaspora locations, particularly in South Africa, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to cover more cities with significant Kenyan populations.
According to 2025 diaspora data presented to the committee, an estimated 1,464,676 Kenyans live abroad. However, only 629,688 are registered with Kenyan diplomatic missions, and just 10,443 are registered voters—highlighting a significant participation gap.
Sunkuli said that while diaspora voting has gradually expanded since its introduction in the 2013 General Election—initially covering Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi—the uptake remains modest relative to the size of the diaspora.
“As of the 2022 elections, 10,443 voters were registered, representing more than a twofold increase from 2017. However, voter turnout stood at 57.76pc, with notable variations across countries,” he said.
The planned expansion is projected to cost Sh502 million, but the Commission has only been allocated Sh400 million for both registration and voting activities. Sunkuli warned that the funding shortfall could undermine the rollout.
“This allocation is limited and may jeopardise the Commission’s plans on diaspora activities,” he said.
Beyond financial constraints, the IEBC also flagged legal barriers affecting diaspora voting.
Sunkuli pointed to existing regulations that tie voter registration and polling to the presence of Kenyan diplomatic missions, limiting the Commission’s ability to fully implement the constitutional principle of progressive realisation.
“The Commission is unable to fully operationalise the constitutional requirement… and requests the Committee’s support in amending this provision to allow a more flexible, data-driven determination,” he said.
Article 38 of the Constitution guarantees every adult citizen the right to register and vote without unreasonable restrictions, while Article 82 obligates electoral laws to provide for the progressive registration and participation of citizens living outside Kenya.
