The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya is working on a plan to allow diaspora voters to cast their ballots online by 2031. This move aims to address the difficulties faced by Kenyans living abroad when taking part in elections. Currently, they have to travel to diplomatic missions to vote, which can be a challenge, especially for those living far from cities where Kenyan embassies and consulates are located.
IEBC vice chairperson Fahima Abdallah stated that the commission is working with relevant institutions to resolve the legal and technological issues that must be addressed before online voting can become possible. The long-term objective is to enable citizens outside the country to participate in elections without traveling to Kenyan embassies or making the journey back home. Abdallah mentioned that the planned system cannot be used during the 2027 General Election due to the existing legal framework governing elections.
The current law states that elections can only be conducted on Kenyan soil, which means that in Kenyan missions abroad. Therefore, Kenyans in the diaspora will still have to appear in person at designated polling centers for the 2027 polls. Most of these centers are located within Kenyan diplomatic missions. The commission is seeking to widen physical access to voting ahead of the 2027 election by increasing the number of countries and polling locations where Kenyans abroad can register and vote.
The Constitution of Kenya requires the gradual expansion of voting rights for citizens residing outside Kenya. Article 82(1)(e) directs Parliament to provide legislation for the progressive registration of citizens residing outside Kenya and the progressive realization of their right to vote. This requirement is also supported by Article 38, which gives every adult citizen the right to vote without unreasonable restrictions.
As part of the preparations for the 2027 election, the IEBC has expanded diaspora voter registration to 26 countries, up from the 12 countries covered during the 2022 elections. The newly included countries are Saudi Arabia, Botswana, Oman, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ghana, Italy, the DRC, Nigeria, Ireland, Türkiye, Ethiopia, China, and Mozambique. This expansion aims to make it easier for more Kenyans abroad to participate in the electoral process.
The IEBC is using technology to improve services for voters in the diaspora and make electoral processes more efficient, accurate, and accountable. The commission is also exploring other ways to take voting services to more Kenyans abroad, rather than relying solely on the current arrangements. This effort is particularly focused on countries with large numbers of Kenyan voters, where expanding access could allow more citizens to participate in elections.
For now, the IEBC's immediate focus remains the 2027 election, when diaspora voters will continue using physical polling centers. The commission's longer-term plan is to overcome the legal and technological barriers and eventually allow Kenyans abroad to vote electronically before its current term ends in 2031. This move is expected to enhance the participation of Kenyans in the diaspora in the country's electoral process.
Key points
- The IEBC aims to introduce online voting for diaspora voters by 2031.
- The commission has expanded diaspora voter registration to 26 countries ahead of the 2027 election.
- The current law requires Kenyans in the diaspora to vote in person at designated polling centers, which are mostly located within Kenyan diplomatic missions.
