NAIROBI, Kenya — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has expanded diaspora voter registration from 12 to 26 countries ahead of the August 2027 General Election, opening the door for more Kenyans living abroad to participate in the polls.
The expansion comes as the electoral agency works to progressively implement the constitutional right of Kenyans living outside the country to register and vote.
At the same time, IEBC has rejected allegations that it is facilitating the registration of foreigners, including Ugandans, as Kenyan voters.
IEBC Expands Registration to 26 Countries
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the Commission had approved the mapping of additional countries where Kenyans abroad will be able to register as voters.
He said registration will be undertaken when the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration Phase II (ECVR II) is launched, subject to the applicable legal and operational framework.
“The Commission has approved the process for mapping additional countries to enhance participation of Kenyans abroad,” Ethekon said.
The expansion increases the number of countries covered from the 12 countries used during the 2022 General Election.
The additional countries include Saudi Arabia, Botswana, Oman, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ghana, Italy, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ireland, Türkiye, Ethiopia, China and Mozambique.
IEBC Cites Constitutional Right
Ethekon said the expansion is part of the Commission’s constitutional obligation to progressively facilitate voting by eligible Kenyans living abroad.
Article 82(1)(e) of the Constitution requires legislation providing for the progressive registration of citizens residing outside Kenya and the progressive realisation of their right to vote.
IEBC said diaspora registration is therefore a formal electoral function conducted through designated mechanisms and under the Commission’s supervision.
The Commission previously expanded diaspora voting progressively, beginning with a limited number of countries in 2013 before reaching 12 countries in the 2022 election.
Commission Rejects Claims of Ugandan Voter Registration
The expansion comes amid allegations that foreigners are being facilitated to obtain Kenyan identification documents and subsequently register as voters.
The Commission described the claims as unsubstantiated and warned that misinformation could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Ethekon said IEBC would take action if credible evidence of electoral malpractice is presented.
This could include disciplinary action, investigations into possible criminal conduct, and prosecution where culpability is established.
IEBC Explains Legal Basis for Registration
Ethekon cited Article 88(4)(a) of the Constitution, which gives IEBC responsibility for conducting continuous registration of citizens as voters.
He also referred to Regulation 13(2)(a) of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2012, which provides for an eligible person to apply for registration to the relevant Registration Officer.
IEBC has previously said that voter registration is conducted through designated registration centres and using prescribed electoral procedures.
The Commission has also been using biometric technology as part of efforts to strengthen the integrity and accuracy of the voters’ register.
Millions of Kenyans Abroad Remain Outside Register
The expansion follows concerns over the relatively small number of Kenyans abroad who are currently registered as voters.
IEBC data presented to Parliament earlier this year indicated that approximately 1.46 million Kenyans were estimated to be living abroad across more than 100 countries.
The Commission said only a small proportion were registered as voters, leaving a large pool of eligible citizens outside the electoral register.
In April, IEBC told Parliament it needed additional funding to expand diaspora registration to 26 countries. The Commission had received Sh400 million but had sought more resources for the expansion.
IEBC Targets More Diaspora Voters
The Commission has previously indicated that it hopes to register hundreds of thousands of additional diaspora voters through the expansion.
The exercise will initially continue under the existing legal framework governing voting by Kenyans abroad.
Under current arrangements, diaspora registration and voting are linked to designated Kenyan diplomatic missions and other authorised locations.
IEBC has also said the expansion will be guided by factors including the distribution and population of Kenyans in different countries.
E-Voting Not Ready for 2027
While expanding physical voting access, IEBC is also looking further ahead with plans for electronic diaspora voting.
Vice Chairperson Fahima Abdallah said the Commission is exploring technology that could eventually allow Kenyans abroad to vote without travelling to Kenyan diplomatic missions.
However, the Commission has indicated that e-voting will not be available for the 2027 General Election.
The longer-term ambition is to overcome the legal and technological barriers and potentially introduce diaspora e-voting in a future election cycle.
IEBC Urges Public to Reject Unverified Claims
Ethekon urged Kenyans and other stakeholders to distinguish between credible evidence and unverified allegations about the voter registration process.
He said IEBC would continue providing information about its electoral preparations while carrying out its constitutional mandate.
The Commission is targeting a register of about 28.5 million voters for the 2027 General Election, compared with 22.1 million registered voters in 2022.
