UK Kenyan`s potential Vote March 2012.
UK Kenyan`s surprise vote! before you crucify, the sample size was large enough to represent. This is not final, its first phase of Diaspora engaging with Kenyan Elections. We are the game changers! so take part fully.
Uhuru Kenyatta comes out as the favourable candidate in UK. A recent survey by UKENTV suggests that its not all glory for the candidate seemingly favoured in Kenya. A sample of four hundred and ten Kenyans in UK took the survey and here are the results.
Uhuru Kenyatta 34.9%
Martha Karua 23%
Peter Kenneth 14.4 %
Raila Odinga 8.8%
Tuju - 7.7%
Kalonzo Musyoka 3.4 %
Mudavadi 2.2%
William Ruto 1.6%
Others 3.9%
The poor performance of the Prime Minister Raila was a shock and so was the huge support for Martha Karua and Peter Kenneth. Other candidate that had an awful vote command was Ruto and Mudavadi. Tuju seems to be gaining momentum in UK. This is the first phase of the survey but as for Uhuru, it was a landslide victory, but what does that say?
There are determining factors that could have led to the survey turnout. It is possible that the survey was more accessible to the GEMA community. It has always been a concern that Diaspora abroad is divided on tribal lines, and if the government has to tackle tribalism, they must include Diaspora in their community cohesion plans.
Theoretically, Kenyan`s abroad have a right to vote within the laws of the new constitution and many are hoping that this will be so, But how practical will it be?
For those who had acquired duo nationality before the new constitution was enacted, they have to undergo the process of reapplying back their Kenyan citizenship, a process which is not clear at the moment and nobody knows if it will be in place before elections. Another concern is that,although ID cards can now be acquired abroad by young Kenyans who are now 18 but came to UK as children or were born in UK, their interest in issues affecting Kenya is not as strong as that of their parents, so they may not be that involved with the voting process.
We cannot fail to recognize that Kenyans abroad do have a big voice when it comes to influencing their people back home. Even if they might not vote, they communicate to many families and friends back in Kenya.Therefore, Diaspora is a force to reckon with, and any winning candidate must make sure the Diaspora have their back!
The next phase of the survey by UKENTV will introduce each candidates manifestos and recommended policy changes. This will allow people to make informed choices. The most important thing is to make sure that the process of campaign and elections is peaceful, fair and inclusive and that the next Kenyan president will propel Kenya to bigger heights, so use your vote wisely, use your brains to vote, not your heart, your stomach or your pocket.
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