Kenyans living abroad to vote in 2017
Kenyans abroad will vote in the next general election following formation of a task force to look in the modalities of actualizing the exercise.
In a gazette notice, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has announced a 10-person committee chaired by Washington Oloo, currently the director of Diaspora and Consular Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His committee will advise on the modalities of registration, sensitization and voting of Kenyans in the diaspora.
The Cabinet Secretary expects the Task Force to advise if it is possible to register polling stations for Kenyans living abroad.
ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE
Other members in the Task Force are Lucy Kiruthu, Gregory Kivalya Somba, Scholastica Ndambuki, Dennis Muhambe, Karen Rono, Kariuki Kimemia, Immaculate Kassait and Peter Oduge.
The move is expected to raise the spirits of the community abroad as this is the first time they will be able to participate in the general elections.
The Government has been citing logistic, financial and time constraints as the main reason for the setback.
The committee has also been tasked with profiling Kenyans abroad and their eligibility to vote and advise how they will sensitize Kenyans living abroad on voting.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs puts the estimated number of Kenyans abroad at 700,000
The official number of Kenyans in the Diaspora registered with all the 52 Kenyan Embassies abroad is 130,000.