IEBC to Open Diaspora Voting in 16 More Countries Ahead of 2027 Election

IEBC Expands Voting Access for Kenyans Abroad

<cite index="18-1,18-3">The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has unveiled plans to extend diaspora voter registration and voting to 16 additional countries ahead of the 2027 General Election, in a move aimed at widening participation.</cite>

<cite index="18-4">The new countries include Saudi Arabia, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Nigeria and China, among others, reflecting regions with a growing number of Kenyan nationals.</cite> The expansion builds on the 12 countries where diaspora voting was available during the 2022 presidential election, which included the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, Qatar, and several East African nations.

<cite index="18-5,18-6">IEBC acting CEO Moses Sunkuli said the expansion is part of a gradual effort to make voting more accessible to citizens outside the country, adding that the rollout will be guided by factors such as population size, cost and operational feasibility.</cite>

Low Turnout Despite Constitutional Right

<cite index="18-8,18-9,18-10">Despite an estimated 1.4 million Kenyans living abroad, participation in past elections has remained low—only 10,443 diaspora voters were registered in 2022, and voter turnout stood at 57.76%.</cite>

The Constitution of Kenya guarantees every citizen the right to vote regardless of location, and Article 82 provides for legislation to facilitate voting by Kenyans abroad. The Supreme Court has affirmed this right, mandating the IEBC to progressively realize diaspora voting. However, implementation has been phased due to logistical and financial constraints.

<cite index="18-11">To reach more Kenyans, the IEBC plans to introduce mobile registration centres in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Africa, targeting cities with high concentrations of diaspora communities.</cite>

Currently, diaspora voter registration requires physical presence at designated Kenyan embassies or consulates during official registration exercises. There is no online registration option. Voters must present a Kenyan national ID or valid passport, and the IEBC uses Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits to capture fingerprints and personal details.

Funding Gap Threatens Rollout

<cite index="18-14,18-15">The Commission estimates it will need about KSh 502 million to carry out the exercise, but has only been allocated KSh 400 million—an allocation Sunkuli warned is limited and may jeopardise the Commission's plans on diaspora activities.</cite>

<cite index="18-16">Sunkuli also pointed to legal restrictions that tie diaspora voting to the presence of Kenyan embassies, calling for reforms to allow more flexibility.</cite> Under current law, the IEBC can only establish polling stations at diplomatic missions, limiting access in countries where Kenya has no embassy or where Kenyan populations are dispersed across distant cities.

What This Means for 2027

<cite index="18-17">The move is anchored in the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to vote and calls for the progressive inclusion of Kenyans living abroad.</cite>

For Kenyans in the 16 newly added countries, the expansion represents the first opportunity to vote in a presidential election without traveling home. Diaspora voting in Kenya is currently limited to the presidential race; voters abroad cannot participate in elections for members of parliament, senators, governors, or county assembly representatives.

The IEBC is expected to announce the specific timeline for diaspora voter registration exercises in the coming months, with registration typically occurring within a designated window before the election. The 2027 General Election is scheduled for August.

Diaspora advocacy groups, including the Kenya Diaspora Alliance, have long pushed for broader voting access and have welcomed the expansion, while calling on the National Treasury to fully fund the initiative. Parliament's Budget and Appropriations Committee will review the IEBC's funding request during the current budget cycle.

Kenyans living in countries not yet included in the expansion—such as Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, and several Gulf states—continue to advocate for inclusion in future election cycles.

Reporting drawn from Dawan Africa, Kenya Elections Tracker, Huduma Global.