Kalonzo and Raila have started wooing the votes of the approximately 3.4 million Kenyans in the Diaspora
Presidential aspirants have started wooing the more than 3.4 million Kenyans living in the diaspora who will for the first time take part in the country’s elections.
Several analysts have indicated that the diaspora vote is being considered as a crucial one for the aspirants who hope to succeed President Kibaki. “Diaspora participation in the 2012 general election is a reality this time round. Many of them would like to vote since the new constitution allows them,” said Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Isaac Hassan.
“IIEC’s research and development department has come up with a position paper on the issue of the diaspora participation in elections. This will be presented to the new commission to study and come up with a way forward,” he said during an interview with the Star.The IIEBC has already received a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the profile of Kenyans abroad and how they are distributed. It is this profile that the electoral commission is currently using to work out modalities of rolling out voter registration outside Kenya.
The commission is planning to set up voter registration centres at the Kenyan embassies and consulates. Those willing to participate in the elections will be required to register. Several presidential aspirants have made forays into foreign capitals where they have been meeting with Kenyans living there. Some of these meetings have been organised by the diaspora communities while others have been held on the sidelines of the official businesses of the aspirants. These visits are expected to increase in frequency once the date of the elections is resolved.
On Thursday night, Prime Minister Raila Odinga left for Israel while Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka headed to Europe on Friday. Planning assistant minister Peter Kenneth left for Japan on Saturday night. Raila will be in Israel for four days, Kalonzo will also be in Europe for the same number of days while Kenneth will be in Japan for a week.
A press release by the Vice Presidential Press Service indicated that Kalonzo’s visit to Nicosia, Cyprus, was at the invitation of the President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias. He is expected to hold bilateral talks with senior government officials in Cyprus ranging from education, cultural exchange, investment and tourism.
En-route to Cyprus, Kalonzo will have a stopover in London, where he will meet Kenyans working and living in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe.
During his visit to Israel, Raila is expected to hold talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the Speaker of the Knesset (Israel Parliament), Reuven Rivlin, and the opposition leader Tzipi Livni. The meetings, to be held in the city of Jerusalem, will discuss national security issues.
In Japan, Kenneth is expected to meet with Japan’s ministers for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; Economic, Trade and Industry as well as meet leaders of several prominent Japanese companies, such as Toyota Kenya, which have interest in Kenya. Kenneth will also meet with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) vice president and also tour Hachobaru geothermal power plant.
JICA has over the years actively assisted Kenya in various projects ranging from agricultural development, economic infrastructure, environmental conservation and health support.
Kenneth is also scheduled to have a dinner with Kenyans living, working and studying in Japan during which he is expected to explain his vision and seek their support. Some of the presidential aspirants have already established networks abroad to champion their campaigns.
Raila has, through his Friends of Raila (Fora) network, set up branches in several cities in Europe and the US to mobilise Kenyans abroad to support his bid. In Nairobi, the PM has hired John Maina, the former chairman of the Kenya Community Abroad, as an advisor on matters Diaspora. The PM has set up an office for Maina at the Office of the Prime Minister from where he will be co-ordinating the Kenyans in the diaspora.
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