Monday 3 December 2012

[wanabidii] IEBC locks out diaspora voters



 
People,
 
 
We must demand for Transparency and Accountability. For example, how much
was spend on Shuttle for Deplomacy and whether it was legitimate to spend such
amount, who must be charged for the same. This and many other must be made
a public debate.....it is because "The People Must Decide". The same way
Voting is a constitutional right, the Diaspora having played a crucial part in Reform
have a right to be heard. We have to take matters serious because they are part
of Reform Change we want...and we stand to loose a great deal if we are not given
a chance to participate in electioneering........
 
 
 
In the same token, this does not give opportunity for extension for the Coalition
Government to overstay their term of office. We expect them to vacate Office by
the end of December 2012.......
 
 
 
IEBC locks out diaspora voters without following the Constitution. IEBC is not
above the law........The people must decide with their votes who to elect and how
they wish to be governed........IEBC must explain how and why they think their
determination is legitimate in concluding to rule out diaspora voters....This shows
there is more than meets the eye........
 
 
 
We did not start this journey for nothing. We must see the end of it in a fair play.....
Once the Parliament closes on the 10th of December, 2012; the music begins.......


Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
 
 
 

IEBC locks out diaspora voters

PHOTO | JACOB OWITI Speaker Kenneth Marende registers as a voter at Mumboha Primary School in Vihiga county on December 1, 2012.

PHOTO | JACOB OWITI Speaker Kenneth Marende registers as a voter at Mumboha Primary School in Vihiga county on December 1, 2012. NATION MEDIA GROUP

By JUSTUS WANGA jwanga@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, December 2 2012 at 00:30

In Summary

  • Mr Hassan said that unpopular as the decision was, it had been informed by time and resource constraints
  • Presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth expressed disappointment in the Cabinet's decision to lock out Kenyans living abroad
  • IEBC chairman Issack Hassan said the commission would embark on an ambitious listing exercise to ensure Kenyans abroad vote online in subsequent elections.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has ruled out registering voters living in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia and any country outside East Africa ahead of the March 4 General Election.
Commission chairman Issack Hassan said on Saturday that only Kenyans who live in the five East African Community countries will have a chance to cast their votes for aspirants of their choice.
Mr Hassan said that unpopular as the decision was, it had been informed by time and resource constraints.
"We have agreed to begin the process of diaspora voter listing with Kenyans in the five countries that make up the East African Community bloc," he said.
The East African Community is made up of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
But presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth expressed disappointment in the Cabinet's decision to lock out Kenyans living abroad. (Read: Kenyans abroad to sue over voter listing rights)
In a statement, the Gatanga MP said the IEBC is an "independent constitutional commission which should not take instructions from any other quarters".
Mr Hassan defended the IEBC decision citing time and money shortage.
"Much as we are an independent body, we have agreed with the Cabinet advice on logistical challenges that would not have made this possible," he said.
The Cabinet rejected a request by the commission to register Kenyans abroad.
Mr Hassan had proposed that the voters cast their ballots at the consulates and embassies in the countries they live.
He said he had written to President Kibaki and East African Community minister Musa Sirma, inviting the government to assist them roll out a voter listing programme within the allocated time.
Mr Hassan said the commission would embark on an ambitious listing exercise to ensure Kenyans abroad vote online in subsequent elections.
"Any other election after the 2013 one will see those patriotic Kenyans cast their votes from their countries of residence," he said.
He asked the voters in the diaspora to be patient.
"There is no need for them to threaten us with court action and other forms of intimidation. They need to understand that our hands are tied and, if we were to push ahead with fulfilling their wishes now, it would be below their expectations, something we do not want to do as a credible body," Mr Hassan said.

The govt says there is no resources to facilitate diaspora voting. This is the same govt that has resources to build KSHS.500MILLION palace for the Vice President, allocates another KSHS500MILLION to build palace for CJ, spends KSHS1BILLION buying luxury cars for state officers, spends KSHS TENS OF MILLIONS in shuttle diplomacy for ICC suspects, spends KSHS1BILLION in useless foreign visits by govt officers....by the way Kenyans living in diaspora also remit about KSHS100 BILLION to Kenya annually......

Guest2 days ago

The Cabinet influenced that decision.Sudan was able to do it,why can't Kenya?Majority of Kenyans living abroad will not tolerate tribal based politics.Is that why we have been locked out?

nyarango3 days ago

and this is one of the many reasons we want this inefficient leaders gone

Why dont u have asystem where we can reg and vote on line, with all this technology it should be possible

So Mr. Hassan and the IEBC CEO travelled all the way to Vihiga to "help" Mr. Speaker to vote?
Quite some efficient use of taxpayers money right there.

It is not a Threat to cite your incompetence. It is not like you just woke up yesterday and realized Jee, we need to register the diaspora to vote. You all along were aware of your responsibilities and mandate but choose to ignore them.

wamami2 days ago

Welcome to Kenya. I wait for a day when things will function as should be. Everywhere you look is incompetence in bold.

IEBC leaders didn't have time and money to conduct voters registration beyond the East African borders . or put it this way, they are not fit for purpose . I do not understand why they had to use a lot of excuses just because they cant trust anyone beyond their pay group to take care of business across the board .
IEBC action is not new among Kenyan leaders , we saw this same reaction during the week following The London Olympic, You wont believe the attitude with this so called leaders. they wouldn't care what our feelings are towards their action or inaction.

see you in court - its not over - we are as kenyan as those in kenya - how dare you strip me of my rights!!

mwandawida2 days ago

We can only hope that the decision was not informed by fear from some quarters that the swing diaspora voter is a discerning one who would not cast an ethnic vote

LuttaSimiyu2 days ago

"where did the time and money go?". It seems events are unfolding by themselves for this election. Is the IEBC really in control? Looks like putting on a brave face!

see you in court

Then why did your commissioners spend all the money and time traveling around the word lying to Kenyans abroad. The time you spent traveling should have been spent planning for this event. Everybody knew that this time will come. Kwani mnaendesha hiyo commission kiushamba namna gani, mnangoja mpaka the 11th hr? I can't understand how Sudanese could run a referendum for their citizens including US, UK and Canada and Kenya cannot. You knew this was in constitution since 2010 what have you been doing Mr. Hassan, you should resign if you can't work. I think you are sending signals that your commission is not independent or it's incompetent.

Hassan knows that the candidate he supports does not have diaspora votes. He is therefore frustrating diaspora voters. We shall meet in the court.

Hassan should say that his management is poor but Kenya tax payers money is enough to pay him the president and the entire Government of Kenya.Lack of money have nothing to do with outside Kenyans voters. Where are you going to get money for the next election ??????.the Government does not do business it is as shame to start with the new electro body it will just be a second Kivuitu.

I don't think IEBC is a independent commission..They have been taking all the decision made by Cabinets from BVR to now locking out Diasporas there rights to vote. They had been saying there ready to conduct the Election in december too.. I don't trust them anymore.

This is why I always doubt Hassan.Hassan,like the Mandera Eastt Mp,is not comfortable with reforms and democracy. He cares not about basic fundamental rights of Kenyan citizens. He is the one who said that we start from the basics-Embassies in host countries. Why make a U-turn? There are forces working against the reform agenda and they are pushing Hassan to tilt the scale in their favor.

Much as I'm disappointed as one of those who'll not be able to vote, I believe that the IEBC should be supported at this crucial moment. The IEBC is already overwhelmed by the registration exercise locally. The elections are only 3 months away. I sacrifice my right to vote because Kenya is more important than all other issues. There are many other ways that we can all contribute in moving Kenya towards that ideal country we want. This is a learning experience for all. Electronic voting is a useful tool for the future.

That's the worst case of complacency. You are apathetic. They feed you with none sense to suit their narrative and you swallow it line and sinker. If the same government believed diaspora vote would fund their retirement package, we would all be registered voters by Christmas but right now there's nothing in it for them so to hell with us!

MPs say adieu to Parliament on Dec 20
Posted by LABAN WANAMBISI on November 21, 2012

The House will adjourn on December 20/CFM-File

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 21 – National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende says the 10th Parliament is likely to adjourn next month despite its term officially expiring on January 15 next year.
Marende welcomed legislators to the fourth session of the 10th Parliament on Tuesday, and announced that the House would only sit for 18 days with the last sitting on December 20 when they are expected to adjourn ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

"We have exactly one month between now and the time that it is proposed we will adjourn. We have computed the number of sittings that we will have and we have found that they are 18 days, so if you want to leave within time, then you must use this period very strictly," Marende said.
"The House will sit until December 20 when it will adjourn indefinitely, but it will however, be dissolved on January 14 when the legislators' term will expire," a senior parliamentary officer explained.
"This is very likely to be our ultimate sitting and so I wish you the very best, and please succeed in your endeavours… in your undertakings, in your deliberations and in your transactions," he said.
The House has several Bills to tackle within the next one month, some of them with a bearing to the impending elections, including the Campaign Financing Bill.
The law aims to eliminate the influence of financial resources in the outcome of Kenya's electoral processes.
The Bill is the last election related legislation that Parliament has to enact in preparation for March 4, 2013 poll as it creates a level playing field for candidates for political office and their political parties by regulating the sources of funding and setting spending limits.
Parliament will also be grappling with the Constitution (Amendment) Bill that seeks to deal with the one-third gender rule with regards to the National Assembly.
The matter is critical because if a solution is not found the next Parliament could be declared unconstitutional if it fails to meet the threshold.
Already, Attorney-General Githu Muigai has gone to the Supreme Court to seek legal opinion on the matter on behalf of the government.
Parliament also has another tight timeline to approve a yet-to-be-picked nominee for Deputy Chief Justice before it winds up its business.
The position fell vacant when the first occupant of the office Nancy Baraza resigned following recommendation by a tribunal that investigated her conduct after a scuffle with a security guard at the Village Market on New Year's Eve.
Applicants for the post have until end of this month to apply before the Judicial Service Commission.
 
 
 
 

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