IEBC in grand move to see diaspora vote

Kenya: The process to grant Kenyans living in the diaspora their constitutional right to vote in general elections has started.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) yesterday launched an online tool for mapping Kenyans residing outside the country.

The exercise will enable the commission to identify the number and location of eligible voters in the diaspora, which has been a great challenge in including the potential voters in the past.

"It is their constitutional right to be registered as voters and has to be done progressively," said IEBC Vice Chair Lilian Mahiri-Zaja.

An individual will be required to submit personal details to ascertain that they can be registered as a voter.

During the launch of the online portal in Nairobi yesterday, Mahiri-Zaja said only the commission will have access to the details which will be used solely for identification purposes.

"The information you provide will be held in confidence by the Commission and will not in any way be shared with other parties," she said following a concern raised by the audience on the privacy of the information that will be provided.

IEBC's new Chief Executive Ezra Chiloba called for extensive civic education to make the exercise a success.

He added that several government institutions will have a key role in ensuring they encourage potential voters to participate.