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Former Kenya Civil Servants Union Secretary General Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity has called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to urgently streamline voter registration processes for Kenyans living abroad ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a statement, Dr. Kinity said thousands of eligible Kenyan voters in the diaspora risk being locked out of the electoral process due to logistical barriers, including limited access to registration centers and inadequate deployment of electoral officials.
His remarks follow consultations with Kenyan communities in several states across the United States, where he said many citizens expressed willingness to facilitate registration exercises by organizing venues and mobilizing participants at their own cost.
“They are ready to support the process, but what is lacking is the presence of IEBC personnel to carry out the actual registration,” Dr. Kinity said.
He noted that Kenyan diplomatic missions have previously demonstrated the capacity to conduct outreach services, citing the Embassy of Kenya in Washington, D.C., which has periodically issued national identification documents to citizens across different regions.
Dr. Kinity argued that a similar model could be adopted for voter registration, with embassies and high commissions serving as coordination centers in partnership with the IEBC and diaspora leaders.
He called for early planning and deployment of sufficient staff to ensure timely registration, warning that delays could once again limit participation by Kenyans abroad.
The diaspora vote, though legally recognized, has historically recorded low turnout due to restricted access and operational challenges. Stakeholders have repeatedly urged electoral authorities to expand registration and voting access to reflect the growing number of Kenyans living and working outside the country.
Dr. Kinity maintained that enhancing diaspora participation is a matter of democratic inclusion, noting that Kenyans abroad continue to play a significant role in the country’s economy through remittances.
He urged the IEBC to act promptly to ensure all eligible voters, regardless of location, are given an opportunity to participate in the 2027 elections.
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