By Moses Njagih
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has sent regulations on the electoral process to the Government Printer for publishing and gazetting.
This is as the electoral body races against time to ensure everything is in place for the General Election.
The rules include provisions on Diaspora voters who will take part in the polls for the first time.
The commission last Friday sent three sets of regulations to the Government Printer that outline how the elections, voter registration and voter education will be conducted.
The commission has already rolled out voter education in all counties.
Also contained in the guidelines is how Kenyans residing outside the country will register as voters and take part in the actual voting.
Diplomatic missions
According to the regulations, only Kenyans living in areas where Kenya has a diplomatic representative will be allowed to vote, but only for the president.
“The registration of voters and elections will only be in countries where Kenya has an embassy, high commission or consulate,” state the regulations.
Only those with valid passports will be allowed to register as voters.
The regulations also grant the commission powers to appoint election staff from among people who are working in the embassies, except for the ambassadors and high commissioners.
“The commission may appoint any representative who shall not be an ambassador, deputy ambassador, high commissioner or the deputy on a Kenyan mission,” states the regulations.
Certificate
On the issue of independent candidates, the regulations requires that such a person presents a certificate from the Registrar of Political Parties to certify that he has not been a member of any political party at least three months before the elections.
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They will also be required to notify IEBC of their intention to contest the polls as independent candidates.
With respect to the academic requirements, the regulations have accommodated those holding certificates from foreign institutions but the papers will have to be certified by bodies that regulate setting and marking of local examinations.
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