The Diaspora Network Hub has criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) decision not to register Kenyans living abroad, as the country begins early campaign.
The protests from the group come after IEBC announced that it will not conduct any registrations for people living in the diaspora, citing ongoing policy reviews.
In a statement on Tuesday, the organisation's founder, Mudge Rulf, claimed that this was a deliberate tactic to deny Kenyans in diaspora their right to vote despite a series of petitions.
"When we submitted the petition on Diaspora voting, strange events started unfolding. I ask again, why the fear for Diasporans? Why is the government infringing on the rights of Diasporans?" she quipped.
This follows a 2024 petition by the same organisation, which sought to establish more polling stations in more foreign cities, among other changes, but did not yield any significant results.
Submitted to the National Assembly in November 2024, the petition wanted the IEBC to establish more physical voting centres for Kenyan citizens living in the diaspora, providing them with the opportunity to carry out their Constitutional duty.
It cited, among others, the fact that the current arrangements for Kenyan voters were inadequate and only available in cities with official Missions.
The petition compared this shortage to other established diaspora populations from Nigeria, Rwanda, India and Ghana, whose governments have established robust systems to ensure that all of their citizens abroad can vote.
Shortly after, another petition was filed by the Busia Senator, Okita Omtatah, challenging the unconstitutionality of Regulation 37 of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2012, which requires diaspora Kenyans to register with a passport.
The High Court of Kenya dismissed the petition on May 22, 2023, but the Senator, who has expressed interest in the Presidential race, claimed that this unjustly discriminated against Kenyan citizens abroad and limited their fundamental right to participate in our democracy.
As such, she informed the Presidential candidates seeking their votes that the Kenyan diaspora would consider the aspirants' commitment to pushing for the respect of their vote in 2027.
"To the 2027 presidential candidates who keep reaching out to Diasporans, please note that one of the aspects we will consider is the efforts you put into pushing this government to respect our Voting rights!"
Besides President William Ruto, other Presidential hopefuls who have taken their campaigns abroad so far include the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, who have both made trips to the United States.
