An Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official reassured the US Kenyans that Diaspora voting would start on August 9 at 6 am and end at 5 pm at local times, just like in Kenya.
IEBC Compliance and Quality Assurance Officer Elizabeth Omolo is the second official to assure skeptical diasporans who have been bombarded with rumors they’d be voting at night.
Earlier last week, Commissioner Justus Nyang’aya said the commission met and decided to make voting easier for diasporans.
“We took a plenary decision to have people start and end at those statutory hours local times,” Nyang’aya said.
Omolo said IEBC is prepared to administer the vote and assured Kenyans that everything was in place to ensure a smooth process.
“You employ a lot of people in Kenya. If you’re sending 20,000 shillings at home every month, that is a salary,” IEBC Official Elizabeth Omolo
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Speaking in a Zoom meeting attended by almost 80 Kenyans, Omolo laid to rest anxieties that Kenyans in the diaspora would vote at night to match the voting times in Kenya.
Appearing on One Mic Show with Ali Badawi, Omolo said she’s aware that Kenyans still have doubts about the IEBC’s ability to administer a credible election.
She encouraged diasporans to get involved saying they’re a crucial contributor to the Kenyan economy, responsible for 4 percent of the economy.
“You employ a lot of people in Kenya. If you’re sending 20,000 shillings at home every month, that is a salary,” Omolo said, highlighting the amount of cash Kenyans in the diaspora send in remittances.
Last year, Kenyans abroad sent almost $4 billion, making diaspora remittances a top foreign exchange earner, contributing more than Tourism, which has seen a steep revenue decline due to the Coronavirus pandemic-induced shutdowns.
Registered voters must show up at the polling station and present their identification, passport, or Kenya national ID card. If confirmed in the register, they’ll be allowed to vote.
Speaking from Washington DC, Omolo said a gazette notice would be published as soon as Monday to confirm the times.
Some in the audience blamed the IEBC for poor communication. They faulted the commission for the lack of publicity, even for the Zoom call and encouraged them to regularly post the information on their social media such as Twitter.
Unlike Kenyans at home, who will be voting for all 6 elective positions, President, Governor, Senator, representative, Woman representative, and Member of Council Assembly (MCA), diasporans are only eligible to vote for the presidential candidates only.
To prevent citizens from voting twice, voters will dip one of their pinky fingers into an indelible ink after casting their ballot.
ALI BADAWI SPEAKS WITH IEBC OFFICIAL ELIZABETH OMOLO ABOUT DIASPORA VOTING PLANS
