Kenyans in the Diaspora will now fully participate in the general elections beginning 2017.
This was after the Court of Appeal ruled that IEBC should set more facilities and infrastructure in the Diaspora to allow voter registration in preparation for the next election.
While delivering the ruling, Justice Roselyn Nambuye directed the IEBC to ensure that Kenyans in Diaspora vote for all positions vied for in the next general elections.
During the last general election, the question whether voters in the Diaspora were eligible to vote or not generated heated debate.
In the end, scores of voters within the East African nations were the only lucky Kenyans in Diaspora who managed to vote.
The case was filed by New Vision Kenya and Kenyans in Diaspora who sought the IEBC to ensure that all Kenyans in the Diaspora vote in the next elections.
The hearing of an appeal filed by Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero at the Supreme Court failed to kick off on Friday due to the absence of the presiding judge, CJ Willy Mutunga.
Kidero’s lawyer Tom Ojienda argued the case should not proceed without a full bench, as provided for under the Supreme Court regulations.
He had asked the court to constitute a full bench since the issues they had raised were serious.
However Ferdinand Waititu who had challenged Kidero’s election had wanted the appeal to proceed before Justices Kalpana Rawal, Jackton Ojwang, Smokin Wanjala, Philip Tunoi, Njoki Ndungu and Mohammed Ibrahim.
The court agreed with Kidero and directed the parties to appear before the Deputy Registrar on Tuesday for fresh hearing dates before a full bench.
Kidero moved to the Supreme Court soon after the Court of Appeal nullified his election as the Governor.
Kidero and his deputy Jonathan Mueke were reinstated by the Supreme Court, which also barred the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission from declaring the seat vacant, pending the determination of the case.
