IEBC seeks Sh502million for diaspora voter registration ahead of 2027
IEBC seeks Sh502million for diaspora voter registration ahead of 2027
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is seeking Sh502 million to scale up diaspora voter registration and participation ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that funding gaps and structural barriers continue to lock out millions of Kenyans living abroad.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee, Acting Chief Executive Officer Moses Sunkuli highlighted a stark disparity between the estimated diaspora population and actual voter registration.
While more than 1.4 million Kenyans are believed to reside abroad, only 10,443 registered as voters in the 2022 General Election, with a turnout of 57.76 percent.
Sunkuli said the Commission’s roadmap to 2027 is anchored on institutional coordination, legal and policy alignment, and operational planning, but remains heavily constrained by inadequate funding.
Of the KSh 502 million required for diaspora registration and voting activities, only KSh 400 million has been allocated.
“The Commission is unable to carry out any diaspora mapping and registration activities due to unavailability of funding in the current financial year,” he told the committee.
The IEBC acting CEO said engagement with the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee is ongoing to secure additional resources. Mapping and registration exercises, he noted, could begin as early as July if funding is approved.
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Limited access points remain a key obstacle, with diaspora voting in 2022 restricted to just 12 countries. Legal provisions have further curtailed expansion, as Regulation 34 of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations ties registration and voting to the presence of Kenyan embassies or consulates effectively excluding countries without diplomatic missions.
The Commission warned that the regulation risks imposing unreasonable restrictions on the constitutional right to vote and called for amendments to allow a more flexible, data-driven approach to diaspora participation.
Low awareness among diaspora communities has also contributed to modest registration and turnout, despite measures such as adjusted voting hours to accommodate different time zones.
Lawmakers raised additional concerns over accessibility, particularly in countries such as Saudi Arabia, where some Kenyan migrant workers reportedly lack control over their passports.
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