The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to engage the parliament so as to have online voting for Kenyans in Diaspora to cut costs.
Speaking in Nigeria where he is attending a conference on election technology, IEBC chairman Mr Wafula Chebukati quipped that if implemented, the new voting would cut costs but added that it would involve the parliament and other stakeholders.
“IEBC is considering online voting for Diaspora to cut costs- but must be secure and verifiable. Will engage Parliament, stakeholders on the same,” the Commission said on Twitter.
A survey of Kenyans living done by the Kenya Diaspora Alliance in the Diaspora early this year revealed that most would Kenyans abroad would like to vote by electronic means if given the chance to participate in elections.
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The survey revealed further revealed that eight in every 10 people (80 per cent) polled want to cast their ballots over the Internet, in what could challenge Kenya’s future laws on voting.
The study conducted by researchers from the University of North Carolina (US) between March 25, 2016 and December 5, 2016, also showed that there is a strong interest by the Diaspora in Kenyan politics mainly because they want to take part in electing their leaders as well as fulfilling their democratic duties.
Beth Elise Whitaker who led the research, conducted the study over the Internet with links being shared in 67 countries across the world, where significant populations of Kenyans live, through online advertisements and the Kenya Diaspora Portal of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Kenya’s voting process is entirely manual, as voters have to physically mark ballot papers, but the transmission is done manually and electronically. The system, however, encountered problems in the 2017 elections, leading to a nullification of the results.