The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has requested Ksh502 million to support efforts aimed at increasing voter registration and participation among Kenyans living abroad in preparation for the 2027 General Election.
While appearing before Parliament’s Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee, acting CEO Moses Sunkuli expressed concern over the low engagement of diaspora voters.
He noted that although an estimated 1.4 million Kenyans reside outside the country, only 10,443 registered to vote during the 2022 General Election. Of those, turnout stood at 57.76%, highlighting a significant gap between the diaspora population and actual electoral participation.
Sunkuli explained that the commission has been unable to carry out critical activities such as diaspora mapping and voter registration due to lack of funding in the current financial year.
This has slowed down IEBC’s plans to expand access to voting for Kenyans abroad and improve overall participation.
He added that the commission’s strategy for the 2027 elections focuses on aligning legal and policy frameworks, enhancing coordination with relevant institutions, and strengthening operational planning.
However, implementation of these plans has been limited by financial constraints.
The IEBC is now pushing for the additional funding to bridge these gaps and scale up outreach, registration, and engagement efforts among Kenyans in the diaspora, with the goal of ensuring more inclusive participation in the next general election.
