Kenya Embassy to hold polls

Kenyans living in Uganda will for the first time vote from the Kenya High Commission, after the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) made a last minute effort to register Kenyans living in East African countries.

However, Kenyans in the Diaspora will not be able to vote following a High Court ruling against a petition to include them in the ballot last November.

Move welcomed
Kenyans in Uganda say the move to have them vote at the Kenyan embassy is welcomed, since in the past they had to travel back home or miss the election.

Mr Fred Waga, an IT manager at Aga Khan School, said being able to vote from Uganda will enable Kenyans here exercise their democratic rights.
Ms Ndunge Kivuva said this year’s elections are significant because she wants to see a departure from the previous elections, when the disputed presidential race triggered violence that claimed more than 1,000 lives.

At least 600,000 Kenyans were displaced and the national economy lost $3.7b, according to a committee set to investigate the post election violence.

Neighbouring countries like Uganda also suffered economically through the disrupted supply of goods and increased commodity prices from the port of Mombasa.

Most Kenyans who spoke to URN hoped that the electoral body (IEBC) will deliver a free and fair election.

The chairman of the Association of Kenyans Living in Uganda, Mr Isaiah Kojwang said he is optimistic that peace will prevail in the March 4, 2013 elections.

Mr Kojwang said Kenyans have learnt from the previous chaotic elections and do not want a repeat of the same.