Kenyans in Germany and other EU countries have been urged to turn up in large numbers and register as voters. In an exclusive interview with Afronews, Commissioner Francis Mathenge Wanderi of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) appealed to “all Kenyans who have attained the age of 18 years and are not registered to come out and register for the purpose of voting for the next president.”
For the first time in history, Kenyans in Germany and other European countries will have a chance of voting for the next president of their home country.
Kenyans living in the UK can register and vote at the Kenya High Commission in London while those living in all the EU countries can register and vote at the Kenya Embassy in Berlin.
The voter registration at the Kenya Embassy in Berlin will kick-off on Friday, 21st January 2022 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and then from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm and will be run daily until Friday 4th February 2022.
The address of the Kenya Embassy in Berlin is: Rheinbabenallee 49-14199 Berlin.
Commissioner Wanderi, who will oversee the voter registration exercise and polling at the Kenya Embassy in Berlin led a team of IEBC officials last December in a factfinding mission. “The purpose of our visit to Germany last time was to do mapping of the polling station which is a legal requirement for any new polling station. After our meeting with the Embassy staff and Ambassador Thomas Amolo, we were satisfied that the Ambassador will facilitate the registration exercise and we are very grateful,” Commissioner Wanderi said.
Explaining why the IEBC chose Berlin as the EU voting registration and polling centre, Commissioner Wanderi said: “The IEBC used several parameters among them the number of Kenyans resident in that country and registered by the Embassy. In the EU, Germany has the highest population of Kenyans and it was chosen so that the rest of the Kenyans in the other countries within EU can register and vote there.”
What are the requirements for registration as a Kenyan voter?
All Kenyan citizens residing in Germany or other EU countries can apply to register as voters. They are required to provide proof of their Kenyan citizenship by producing a valid Kenyan passport. Expired passports and valid Kenyan ID cards will not be accepted for the purpose of voter registration in Berlin.
Kenya Embassy in Berlin, the only voter registration and polling centre in EU
Since Kenyan law doesn’t allow online voters registration and voting, all Kenyans in the EU who wish to take part in the next presidential elections must travel to the Kenya Embassy in Berlin to register as voters (from 21st January to 4th February 2022) and to vote (9th August 2022).
There will be a Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kit at the Embassy to capture biometric and biographic details of voters. It is impossible for anyone to register as a voter without travelling to Berlin to manually fill in the application form and submit it to the IEBC voter registration officers. The applicant must show their original valid passport and allow their biometric and biographic data to be taken during registration.
They’ll also be required to travel to Berlin sometime in March when the IEBC will avail the Register of voters to enable voters verify their biometric and biographic data.
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Contacts for help
Kenya Diaspora Union of Organisations in Europe, a network of Kenyan organisations and associations in the EU coordinated by Joy Zenz, has been leading the voter registration mobilisation campaign since last December.
All Kenyans planning to travel to Berlin for voter registration who need help with information regarding accommodation and general orientation can contact Ben Njogu, Chairperson of the Kenya Union Berlin/Brandenburg and his team by dialing: +49 15111512549 or +49 1773307986 or +49 15254188989.
For more information about the voter registration exercise in Berlin, please visit the Facebook page of the Kenya Diaspora Union of Organization in Europe.
Ambassador Amolo announced that two Embassy officials namely Mr Alexander Njuguna Karuma and Mr Isaak Mamo Jirma had been appointed as points of reference for the voter registration exercise. They can be reached by dialling; +49-170-5653817 or sending an email to registration@kenyaembassyberlin.de
To book your appointment to register as a voter at the Kenya Embassy in Berlin, visit: www.iebc.or.ke
By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a