Debate on
the diaspora’s historic vote next year has largely focused on the contentious
issue of turning Kenyan embassies into polling stations.
But there
is an equally important issue that has somehow escaped attention — the need for
a civic education programme targeting the diaspora.
It is hard
to think of the diaspora and civic education in the same sentence. There seems
to be a mistaken assumption that the diaspora is well-informed and ready for
the polls. Nothing could be further from the truth.
While some
Kenyans in the diaspora understand their new rights and responsibilities, there
are others who are divorced from events in Kenya USA
A member of
the IEBC delegation was quoted as expressing frustrations over the kind of
questions he faced from some Kenyans. He advised them to read the Constitution
to understand their rights. This, obviously, goes without saying.
The
experience of the IEBC delegation is repeated often in Kenyan gatherings where
one encounters misinformation, confusion, and an information deficit that might
hamper the civic engagement of diaspora voters.
There is an
urgent need for a civic education programme built around four key objectives —
information, education, mobilisation and advocacy to ensure the diaspora
community understands their new rights and obligations and the enormous
opportunity they now have to participate in shaping Kenya’s destiny.
Information
is power. Lack of proper information can undermine a voter’s ability to make
informed decisions.
A good
civic education campaign must start by providing critical information like how
to register as a voter, where to register, what is required, when and where to
vote, and other key issues related to the electoral process.
A
successful civic education campaign must also include an educational component.
While the diaspora is made up of some of the most well-informed Kenyans, they
tend to be divided along ethnic and tribal fault lines.
It is
important for the civic education initiative to go beyond providing information
and include an educational component focused on the critical issues facing the
country and equip the diaspora voter with the knowledge to interrogate the
visions of the various candidates and how well they align with Kenyan needs.
While the
IEBC is working on the logistics and modalities of enabling the diaspora to
vote for the first time, there are many contentious issues that are likely to
arise and which will need to be addressed in a timely manner or risk
disenfranchising a huge constituency.
Given that
there is no organised framework or institutional infrastructure for engaging
the Kenyan diaspora, there is a need to consider using information technology
to carry out an effective and widespread civic education campaign.
Done
correctly, such a civic education programme targeting three million voters has
the potential to deliver enough swing votes to determine the outcome of the
election and the future direction of Kenya
Prof Chege teaches at Kansas
State University , USA
Source; Daily Nation.
