IEBC Expands Diaspora Voting to 16 More Countries Ahead of 2027 Election

Kenya’s electoral body plans to expand diaspora voter registration to 16 additional countries ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said the new registration drive will cover Saudi Arabia, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ghana, Italy, Nigeria, Ireland, Türkiye, Ethiopia, China, Mozambique, Botswana, Oman and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The move aims to increase participation among citizens living abroad.

The expansion highlights a gap between the size of the diaspora and its electoral engagement. Official estimates from 2025 indicate that about 1.5 million Kenyans live outside the country, yet fewer than 11,000 were registered to vote in the last election. IEBC acting chief executive Moses Sunkuli said participation has improved since diaspora voting began in 2013, but remains low relative to the population abroad.

To address access challenges, the Commission plans to deploy mobile registration centres in countries with large Kenyan populations, including South Africa, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. This approach seeks to reach voters beyond embassies and consulates, which currently determine where registration can take place. Sunkuli has called on Parliament to amend Regulation 34 to allow a more flexible system based on population data.

Funding constraints remain a concern. The IEBC estimates that diaspora registration and voting will cost Sh502 million, but it has been allocated Sh400 million. Sunkuli told MPs that the shortfall could affect the implementation of the programme.

Diaspora voting has expanded gradually since it was first introduced in four East African countries during the 2013 elections. By 2022, it included countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and South Sudan. Despite this growth, registration levels remain low, raising concerns about access, awareness and trust.

The Constitution guarantees the right of every adult citizen to vote without unreasonable restriction under Article 38, while Article 82 requires electoral laws to provide for the progressive registration of citizens abroad.