IEBC MOVES TO SUPREME COURT

Kenya’s electoral body the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has moved to the Supreme Court to block the directive issued to them to register Kenyans living in diaspora as valid voters for the 2017 general elections. The IEBC is seeking to overturn the decision by the Court of Appeal which directed that IEBC starts registering voters in diaspora in anticipation of the next election.

RIGHT TO VOTE

In July last year the Court of Appeal directed the IEBC to put up plans to allow Kenyans in the diaspora to vote for presidential, gubernatorial, parliamentary and county assembly elections.

In a ruling read by Judge Roselyn Nambuye, the court said “the right to vote is a constitutional provision and should be exercised by everyone without any prejudice.”

The judge also directed that a provision for diaspora to vote should not only be limited to the presidential election but should also include the parliamentary, senatorial and other positions.

However, the electoral body moved to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling terming it “unrealistic.”

The legal battle between the diaspora and IEBC has been going on since 2010. Since his election in 2013, President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured Kenyans in the diaspora that they will vote in 2017. “You have a right as Kenyans in the diaspora to vote and shape the destiny of Kenya,” Uhuru said.