PRESS RELEASE RELEASE IMMEDIATELY

Contact: Comfort Munoru Mwangi, Chair KDDC, Tel. +1-904-418-2608

RE: Diaspora Offers 11^th Hour Bare Minimum Solution to Diaspora Voting to the IEBC

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, USA; DECEMBER 1^ST, 2012

After a Radio discussion with Hon. Martha Karua and Prof. Ole Kiyiapi, the KDLA put together a bare minimum solution to the Diaspora Voting that can work within the next 3 months to see the Diaspora get registered and Vote within the Budget put aside for the exercise. This solution was delivered to both Presidential candidates, who in turn presented it to the IEBC on November 28^th. 2012.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO SATISFY THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF KENYAN DIASPORA VOTING IN THE 2013 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Resolutions of Diaspora Discussion with Presidential Candidates

Martha Karua and Professor James Kiyiapi

November 24^th, 2012

Via KPV Online Radio

Prepared by

Kenya Diaspora Leadership Assembly (KDLA)

=========================================================================

1. Following the announcement by the IEBC Chairman that Diaspora voting will be in Embassies and Consulates only, Diaspora leaders convened a community online discussion on the way forward.

2. They invited all presidential candidates in 2013 elections. Two presidential candidates showed up: Professor James Ole Kiyiapi and Hon. Martha Karua.

This discussion took place on Saturday November 24, 2012 10 -11pm Kenya time.

3. In the discussion, the Diaspora leaders presented the grievances of the Diaspora. These include issues such as distance from the missions, capacity of the missions to handle the numbers, mistrust of partisan Embassy officials handling registration of voters and manning the polling stations, registration having not started, and lack of information/civic education.

4. The discussion was organized by Kenya Diaspora Leadership Assembly (KDLA) and aired over KPV Radio http://kenyaprogressivevoice.org.

Hon. Karua said IEBC has not come up with the criteria for creating Diaspora polling stations up to now. She said she does not know for what reason the government has not been forthright about Diaspora voting.

Kiyiapi Proposes a Three-Point Action Plan to Resolve Diaspora Voting Issue

5. Presidential candidate Professor James Ole Kiyiapi proposed that as part of a coordinated effort to create common ground with the IEBC, the Diaspora should:

a) Suggest minimum conditions that the IEBC must meet to garner Diaspora voting; for instance minimum number of polling stations in particular countries or regions.

b) The Diaspora must define this requirement in concrete terms since they are better informed.

c) Forward such suggestions to the leaders as essential requirements in the progressive realization of the constitution.

6. The Diaspora panelists included Ms. Comfort Munoru Mwangi (KDLA, Florida, USA), Ms. Sarah Richson (KDLA London, UK) , Dr. Juliana Mwose (KDLA Indiana, USA), Dr. Frank Mwaniki (KCA), Prof. Kefa Otiso (KDLA Ohio, USA), Mr. Tegi Obanda (KDLA, Toronto, Canada), Ms. Jane Wanja Gakinya (KDLA, Boston, MA, USA)

7. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO SATISFY THE PROGRESSIVE REALIZATION OF DIASPORA VOTING IN THE 2013 GENERAL ELECTIONS

a. The Kenyan Diaspora continues to seek answers from their government about their ability to vote. It has come to the Diaspora knowledge that the IEBC is even considering not letting the Diaspora vote. Some of the reasons that have been given for this decision are that there are only 165,000 Diaspora.

b. Speaking with Professor Ole Kiyiapi, the Diaspora agreed to work on budget and propose minimum requests that would ensure secure voting. The IEBC should be in a position to work out the logistics with the Diaspora to facilitate for their voting. It has been proposed that $3,000,000 has been set aside for the Diaspora voting exercise, However a close examination of number of polling stations that would be required and the manpower reveals a different picture. The Diaspora voting can actually be actualized for less cost. Please see below proposals

THE KENYA DIASPORA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL SUGGESTED THE FOLLOWING FOR BARE MINIMUM COST:

:

-reducing Global Polling stations to 60

-out-of -country voting via nearest Embassies for people in countries/territories or far off States with no Embassies

-the 60 Returning Officers are flown to Nairobi to be trained and sworn in by the IEBC

-the Returning officers then train clerks

-Returning Officers/Clerks to be an advertised jobs where the people short listed are of good moral standing etc

-Diaspora to find community halls, school, libraries, office buildings with help from their local countries where they are staying. Cost should be therefore minimal and locations reachable to all

-Polling Day will be done with video back, a pool of members in the Diaspora who will be appointed by their representative parties (to reduce costs)will oversee the polling, some International lookers, press and friends of Kenya.

-Distances traveled by Kenyans as per our proposals will not be more than 8 hours drive which is far better than the current proposal

-The Poling day will also be used as a Day out to vote and community activities will be planned around the day like soccer, barbecue, cultural day....unifying factors and selling a good Kenya image across the Globe

-A timeline/schedule should be availed to all Kenyans via their Embassy, Internet Web pages, social media, On line Newspapers, with some civic education: Candidates etc

- With support from the government, KDLA-Kenya Diaspora Leadership Assembly can organize a Presidential Debate on an online POD cast to hear what they offer at least once before elections.

If we in the Diaspora and the IEBC can begin fine tuning this proposal, the Kenya Diaspora will vote and save the situation. Sudan, Estonia, Senegal has done. It is in our Constitution and the world is watching. Progressive does not mean zero action. Collaboration is key and crucial.

8. Proposed Budget for the Diaspora voting.

9. Projected Election officer Per Diem Expenditure.

Room and board Capped at $150.00 per day

Meals $25 per day

Traveling/Transport: $0.43 per Kilometer.

10. Compensation of the Election Officials

Presiding officer: $150.00 per day 60

Deputy Presiding officer: $120 per day 60 RO

Clerks (Polling/Registration): $ 90 per day 220 clerks

Further Discussions being held with other Diaspora members around the Globe to tweak it more.

Tentative Discussion to be held on Dec. 1, 2012 at 4pm on www.kenyaprogressivevoice.org. Stay posted. Email suggestions to : info@kenyadiasporadev.org

---------------

Kenya Diaspora Leadership Assembly (KDLA) is the elected representative global Kenyan Diaspora body facilitated by Kenya Diaspora Development Collaborative (KDDC).