IEBC, Diaspora Group discuss reforms for 2027 voting

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The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has opened talks with the Diaspora Technical Working Group (DTWG) on ways to boost diaspora voter turnout ahead of the 2027 General Election.

During a virtual consultative meeting, Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana, who chairs the Voter Education, Partnerships, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Committee, stressed the need for unity and practical solutions.

“This is not just about the Commission or the diaspora--t’s about the country’s future,” Dr Mukhwana said.

He added that the IEBC was ready to work closely with Kenyans abroad to address barriers that have discouraged participation.

Danson Mukile, the DTWG lead, said the low diaspora turnout in the last election showed that the system was not working for many.

“Diaspora turnout was too low. We had limited polling stations restricted to embassies, tough registration rules, and high travel costs — especially for those in the US and Canada,” Mr Mukile noted.

In the 2022 General Election, 10,443 Kenyans living abroad were registered to vote, but only 3,435 ballots were cast, a turnout of just under one-third.

Many voters were forced to travel long distances to embassies and high commissions, while others missed the vote altogether due to limited registration centres and inadequate voter education.

The meeting heard proposals to expand polling locations beyond Kenyan missions, deploy biometric registration systems abroad.

There were also suggestions to intensify civic education, and use technology to cut costs and improve access, particularly for voters in far-flung countries.

The session ended with both sides committing to continue the dialogue and jointly work towards an inclusive, affordable, and efficient diaspora voting process for 2027.