The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has commenced diaspora voter registration exercise for a period of 15 days
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati in a statement to newsrooms said that the exercise will be carried out in the 18 registration centres as earlier gazetted on 14 the January, 2022.
Chebukati said that the countries to be covered include the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa.
“However, due to COVID -19 related travel restrictions and logistical challenges, the scheduled voter registration exercise will not commence as scheduled in United Kingdom (Kenya High Commission in London), Canada (Kenya High Commission in Ottawa, Kenya Honorary Consulate in Toronto and Kenya Honorary Consulate in Vancouver) and United Arab Emirates (Kenya Embassy in United Arab Emirates and Kenya Consulate in Dubai),” explained Chebukati.
He said that the commission regrets the delay in rolling out the voter registration exercise in the affected countries and is closely working with the relevant authorities to ensure it kicks off.
“Upon commencement, the exercise will be extended by the number of days lost to ensure that eligible voters are availed for the set 15 days for registration,” he said.
Chebukati affirmed the commission’s commitment to afford Kenyans in the affected diaspora countries the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to register as voters to enable them participate in the upcoming General Election.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
