Kenyans in East Africa to vote

Kenyans living in East African countries will have a chance to vote in next year's general elections after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) authorised voter registration at all foreign missions in the four countries.

IEBC Chairman Issak Hassan said even though the commission intended to register voters at all foreign missions worldwide, it was overwhelmed by the ongoing voter registration in the country.

"I have written to the Foreign Affairs Ministry to ensure that the exercise is conducted in a fair matter within the remaining 19 days," he said.

This means Kenyans living in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi will vote in the March 4 polls.

Speaking at the Mumboha Primary school in the Luanda constituency at the weekend where National Assembly speaker Kenneth Marende registered as a voter, the chairman decried poor turnout in the area two weeks after the exercise was launched.

He said that out of 2.2 million eligible voters in the western province, only 377,940 have so far registered with only 19 days left to the closure of the exercise.

Hassan said the trend was worrying since the majority of eligible voters will be locked out of the landmark elections if they do not turn up and register.

"The commission has no mandate to extend the voter registration exercise therefore I am appealing to all Kenyans to register now," he said.

He rubbished claims that the Biometric Voter Register machines cause cancer and impotence urging Kenyans to desist from rumours that could derail the exercise.

The commission, he said will go on with the elections as scheduled even if the 18 million target of voters is not reached.

He further urged house speaker Kenneth Marende through communication from the chair in parliament to ask legislators and all Kenyans to take the registration exercise seriously.

Marende said Kenyans have a lot of confidence in the commission adding that it was equal to the task and will deliver a free and fair election.

"We have given you all the support and facilities and there is no doubt on my mind that you will do a good job," he said.

He added that the proposal to register Kenyans in East African countries only was in order to ensure that IEBC completes the exercise within the stipulated period.