IEBC expands diaspora voting to 26 countries

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has expanded its diaspora voter registration from the current 12 to 26 countries in a move aimed at making more Kenyans living abroad to participate in the August 2027 General Elections.

The commission at the same time has denied allegations appearing in sections of the media claiming that it is illegally registering voters from neighboring countries.

In a statement, the Commission chairman Erastus Ethekon pointed out that Kenyans in diaspora also deserve to participate in the forthcoming elections as part of their constitutional obligations.

“The Commission has approved the process for mapping additional countries to enhance participation of Kenyans abroad, with diaspora registration scheduled to be undertaken upon the launch of Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration Phase II (ECVR II), in accordance with the applicable legal and operational framework,” Mr Ethekon said.

Voter registration of Kenyan citizens residing outside Kenya was initially undertaken in a limited number of countries during the 2013 General Election and the reach was subsequently expanded in successive General Elections, extending to 12 countries in the 2022 General Election.

Mr Ethekon pointed out that Kenyans residing outside the country have a constitutional right to participate in the electoral process.

In expanding the diaspora registration, Mr Ethekon said the move is in line with Article 82(1)(e) of the Constitution which requires the progressive registration of citizens residing outside Kenya and the progressive realization of their right to vote.

“The Commission therefore wishes to clarify that diaspora voter registration is not a surreptitious or informal process. It is a constitutionally contemplated and progressively implemented electoral function, undertaken through designated mechanisms and under the supervision of the Commission,” Mr Ethekon said.

Mr Ethekon warned against misinformation on claims that it is registering Ugandans as voters saying such information is calculated to undermine public confidence in the integrity, security and credibility of Kenya’s electoral processes.

“The Commission notes with grave concern the continuous dissemination of misleading and unverified information by sections of the media, groups and individuals, through mainstream and social media platforms, concerning its constitutional mandate and ongoing preparations for the upcoming General Election,” Mr Ethekon said.

“Commission urges the public and all stakeholders to distinguish between credible evidence and unverified allegations, misinformation or sensationalist claims. The Commission shall continue to provide factual information on its processes and shall not be diverted from its constitutional mandate by unfounded assertions intended to undermine public confidence in the electoral process,” Mr He added.

Mr Ethekon said that despite the allegations, no entity, organization, group or individual has submitted to the commission any credible evidence supporting any such allegations of illegality and malpractice.

He said that where credible evidence is presented, the Commission shall take appropriate action including disciplinary action, investigation into criminal conduct and where culpability is established, criminal prosecution and punishment shall be undertaken in accordance with the laws of Kenya.

“Registration of voters is governed by the Constitution and the applicable electoral laws. Article 88 (4)(a) mandates IEBC to conduct continuous registration of citizens as voters and the Elections (Registration of Voters) 2012, Regulation 13 (2)(a) stipulates that a person who wishes to be registered as a voter shall, make an application to, the Registration Officer for the Constituency in which the person wishes to be registered,” Mr Ethekon said.

Registered Kenyans abroad

In April this year, the commission urged the National Assembly to either or amend Regulation 34 (2) of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations 2012 in order to allow it to register Kenyans in diaspora outside the current designated areas.  

Currently, the regulations limit voting and registration of voters only in Kenyan Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates.

Article 38 of the Constitution, which guarantees every adult a right to be registered as a voter and vote without any restrictions.

Further, Article 82 requires electoral law to provide for the progressive registration of citizens residing outside the country and progressive realization of their right to vote.

As of 2025, data from the ministry indicates that there are estimated 1,464,676 registered Kenyans spread across 111 countries.

The commission however says out of the 1,464,676 only 62,688 are registered with Kenyan diplomatic missions and just 10,443 as voters leaving out 1,454,233 eligible Kenyans who are locked out from participating in elections.

In addition to the 1,454,233, the commission also said it is targeting approximately 400,000 voters from 16 new countries.

The 16 new countries where the commission told Parliament that intends to expand the diaspora registration and voting include Saudi Arabia, Botswana, Oman, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ghana, Italy, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Ireland, Turkey, Ethiopia, China (Guangzhou), Mozambique and mobile centres in South Africa, Canada, UK and US.

In a bid to achieve the 1.8 million registration of new diaspora voters, the commission said it needs Sh502 million but has only been allocated Sh400 million warning that the deficit risks jeopardizing the commission’s plan on diaspora activities.

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