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{
    "id": 552885,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/552885/?format=api",
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    "content": "3. To advise on possible registration and poling centers on Kenyans living abroad. 4. To advise on the modalities of sensitizing Kenyans living abroad on voting, and; 5. To advise on any other matter incidental to their mandate. We recognise that the supreme law of the land is the Constitution. The exercise is in no way intended to usurp the mandate of the IEBC; a fact dully acknowledged by the IEBC itself. Indeed, the outcome of the taskforce findings shall only remain advisory without any obligation to the IEBC. Regarding whether the IEBC was consulted in the plans to set up the polling stations, there are no plans, whatsoever, by the Ministry to establish polling stations anywhere. The taskforce established by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Foreign Affairs and International Trade is a Governmental team whose outcome is advisory, which may be considered in informing the eventual formation of the policies and regulations necessary for the conduct of diaspora voting. In that regard, the Ministry shall use the diplomatic missions abroad to raise awareness of the Commission’s diaspora mapping tool in collaboration with and as may be requested by the IEBC. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I must state that the use of our missions abroad by Government bodies, constitutional commissions as well as the private sector to advance Kenya’s and her people’s interest is a well-established norm. Therefore, advancing the actualization of the provisions of the Constitution through raising awareness as espoused by the Kenya Diaspora Policy, is not seen as conflictual to the supreme law. Just to re-emphasize; the decision as to when and where polling stations will be established remains the sole prerogative of IEBC. The other arm of Government tasked with the duty to allow progressive registration of citizens residing outside Kenya and the progressive realisation of their right to vote is Parliament. Mr. Speaker, Sir, (d) was about why this would be confined to the United States of America (USA) only and yet, there are many other Kenyans living in other countries. As mentioned, the establishments of consulates have no correlation with the mandate of the IEBC. The decision on where to locate polling stations is for the IEBC to determine, either in Kenya or abroad. The exercise of opening consulates is a routine and continuous exercise by the Ministry. At the moment, the Ministry is in the process of evaluating recommendations for the appointment of over 25 honorary consuls in 20 countries, including the USA. Next is about what informed the decision of the proposed consulates within the USA. The process of determining when and where to establish consulates is guided by a well-established policy geared towards enhancing accessibility of Government services to the citizens abroad as well as to tap into the economic and socio-cultural opportunities in those locations. In order to expand the Ministry’s tentacles and reach abroad as manifested in its strategic plan, the Ministry intends to progressively continue to open consulates as and when need arises. In the USA, the Ministry plans to appoint honorary consuls in six cities namely: Boston, Dallas, Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta and Chicago. Generally, the key factors that The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}