The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has kicked off voter listing exercise for Kenyan voters in diaspora.
Chairman Wafula Chebukati indicated the Commission would only conduct diaspora voter registration in the neighbouring East African Countries of Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and South Africa.
This means that at least four million eligible voters in diaspora risk being locked out of the August 8, general polls.
IEBC has been conducting a one month voter registration drive which kicked off January 16 to February 19, targeting six million new voters.
By the third week, the electoral agency said it had enrolled 624,306 additional voters, expanding its total to 2,164,184 against the target.
IEBC suspended voter registration exercise in other diaspora countries due to logistical issues.
''Considering the logistics and constraints of time, the Commission saw it prudent and tenable to start with these countries,’’ said Chebukati.
According to him, the law allows for progressive registration and voting by Kenyans in the diaspora.
The exercise was to kick off February 20, but it officially kicked of 21, and will run to March 6.
“More countries will be included in future,'' said Chebukati, during a press conference.
Kenyans who are registered as voters in diaspora, will only be allowed to vote for the president, in the August 8, polls.