Diaspora Kenyans decry being ‘locked out of 2017 vote’

President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks during the launch of Kenya Foreign and Kenya Diaspora Policy at KICC, Nairobi. The policy is a guide in harnessing the wealth and expertise of Kenyans in the diaspora. (Photo:PSCU)

Kenyans living in diaspora may take longer before enjoying their voting rights at the General Election.

The diaspora residents are concerned that after spirited efforts to have them registered as valid voters for the 2017 Presidential, gubernatorial, parliamentary and county assembly elections, the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission is back in court in a bid to block the exercise.

The President of Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA), a federation of diaspora organisations, Dr Shem Ochuodho said "Kenyans in diaspora are being treated with contempt as if they are second class citizens."

"It is so ironical that barely two days after the President Uhuru Kenyatta publicly reiterated that diaspora will vote in 2017, the electoral administrator was back in the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the decision by the Court of Appeal which directed that IEBC starts registering voters in diaspora in anticipation."

President Uhuru while launching the Diaspora Policy said it will guide the country in harnessing the wealth and expertise of Kenyans in the diaspora to our development efforts.