As Kenya prepares for elections in 2012 the Kenyans who reside abroad are excited and eager to exercise their dual citizenship and voting rights enshrined in the country's new constitution. However, while addressing Kenyans in the USA the Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission Chairman announced that Kenya Embassies will be designated as Voting Centres and that is where Kenyans living abroad will register and cast their vote. This declaration locks tens of thousands of Kenyans living abroad out of the 2012 general elections by virtue of the tyranny of distance. The pronouncement creates significant difficulties for many Kenyans abroad who reside faraway from Kenyan Embassies. It is indeed difficult for a Kenyan family to fly 9 hours (one way) from Hawaii to Washington DC to register as voters and travel there again to cast their vote. The high cost of travel plus the long travel time and inconveniences incurred are sufficient to prevent these patriotic citizens from exercising the constitutional rights.

We therefore petition the IEBC and other relevant Kenya government officers to take all necessary measures that will enable Kenyans abroad to exercise the rights to vote without let or hindrance.