IEBC: Diaspora nomination possible if parliament changes law

NEW YORK, USA—Kenyans living abroad could gain a formal pathway to parliamentary nomination if Parliament enacts legislation providing for Diaspora representation, IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdallah has said.

Abdallah said the electoral commission would facilitate the nomination of representatives of Kenyans in the Diaspora once the necessary legal framework is established by Parliament.

She said legislative reforms would create an avenue for Kenyans living and working abroad to participate more fully in Kenya’s electoral processes and strengthen their representation in national institutions.

The Vice Chairperson was presenting the IEBC Strategic Plan 2024–2029 and its four Key Result Areas to Kenyans living in the United States.

The strategy identifies election management, equitable representation, institutional resilience, and citizen engagement and participation as key areas guiding the Commission’s work between 2024 and 2029.

The issue of Diaspora participation has previously featured in consultations between the IEBC and the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, with discussions focusing on legislative reforms, voter registration and expanding opportunities for Kenyans abroad to participate in elections.

Kenyans living outside the country already participate in elections through designated overseas polling arrangements. Ahead of the 2022 General Election, polling stations were established in 12 countries, according to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.

Abdallah’s remarks therefore point to a broader question of how Kenya can expand electoral participation and representation for its citizens abroad, particularly through changes to the legal framework.

The IEBC’s current strategic plan provides the Commission’s roadmap as it prepares for the 2027 General Election, with equitable representation and citizen participation forming part of its stated priorities.