I.E.B.C:Thematic Working Group on the Diaspora Participation & Voting in 2017 Elections

NAIROBI: Friday, January 27, 2017: During its Plenary Session held today, the Commission made the following resolutions with respect to the on-going registration of voters:

1. The Commission took note that voter registration services in pastoral areas have been affected by drought and difficult logistical challenges as a result of the vastness of these areas (Attached). The Commission resolved to allow Registration Officers in the affected counties to avail fresh registration services within the electoral areas where potential voters could be settled at the moment. However, the movement of the BVR kit shall be confined within the constituency. In addition, the Registration Clerks in the affected counties are directed to also accept transfer applications at their respective registration centres in addition to registering new voters.
2. In order to enhance the right of prisoners to participate in the electoral process and in compliance with the Supreme Court decision, the Commission resolved to gazette prisons as registration centres based on the data to be received from the State Department for Correctional Services. The Commission plans to role out the registration of voters in prisons from 20th–27th February 2017. The Commission reckoned that there would be need to develop regulations to govern the participation of prisoners in elections.
3. The Commission also took note of the right of the Kenyan Diaspora to vote. Accordingly, the Commission will be hosting the Thematic Working Group on the Diaspora Participation in Elections next week to deliberate the Commission’s proposals on the subject.

We wish to reiterate our call to all Kenyans and political leaders to mobilise eligible voters to register remembering that credible elections is the responsibility of all of us.

WAFULA CHEBUKATI CHAIRPERSON