Kenyans living overseas may soon find it easier to take part in national elections, following a renewed push by the Senate for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to set up more polling centres in the diaspora.

Senators want the IEBC, working alongside the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, to establish at least 100 voter registration and polling stations in areas with large Kenyan communities around the world.

The proposal, fronted by Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, aims to address the logistical and accessibility challenges that have previously limited diaspora participation in Kenya's electoral process.

“The IEBC, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, should establish no fewer than 100 voter registration and polling stations worldwide,” Onyonka said.

“These new stations should be prioritised in regions with high concentrations of Kenyans, including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania.”

Onyonka emphasised the need to decentralise voter registration and polling services from embassy-based facilities to more accessible community locations.

According to him, many Kenyans living abroad face serious challenges accessing embassies or consulates where the current voting stations are located.

He said setting up stations closer to where Kenyans live and work would remove physical and logistical barriers, encouraging broader participation in the electoral process.

“In the 2022 general election, the IEBC managed to set up only 27 diaspora polling stations across 12 countries. These were largely concentrated in cities hosting Kenyan embassies, high commissions or consulates,” he said.

During the 2022 elections, IEBC polling centres were established in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Africa, the UK, Canada, US, South Sudan, Qatar, UAE and Germany. Qatar registered the highest diaspora turnout with 1,437 votes, followed by Tanzania with 1,402, Uganda with 1,211 and Rwanda with 1,090.

Onyonka’s proposal is now expected to set the stage for wider engagement on expanding voting access for the growing Kenyan diaspora, which plays a vital role in the country’s economy through remittances and investment.