Petitioning Kenya Presidential Candidates & Politicians against diaspora vote suppression by IEBC

More than oft, we hear the Kenyan 2013 Presidential candidates and other politicians speak of their concern for the diaspora. In light of the recent IEBC ruling on the diaspora voting process, we are petitioning them to come to our Aid/and/or voice support for our cause.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya is about to push through one of the worst forms of voter suppression against Kenyan citizens. 

Per the New Kenyan Constitution
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Section 82(1): Parliament shall enact legislation to provide for—(e): the progressive registration of citizens residing outside Kenya, and the progressive realization of their right to vote.
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The IEBC are using the term "progressive" to suppress the diaspora vote , especially in the USA by requiring US based Kenyan citizens to not only travel to either of 3 embassies/consulates on the West and East Coast to register to vote, but to also travel again to vote. Majority of Kenyan citizens in the USA reside in states which are not close to these locations and the average cost of travel and board per person for one trip will be in excess of $500 usd, so twice will be approximately $1000 per head.

We would like to bring your attention to another section of the new constitution below:
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Section 82 (2): Legislation required by clause (1) (d) shall ensure that voting 
at every election is—
(a) simple; 
(b) transparent; and
(c) takes into account the special needs of—
(i) persons with disabilities; and
(ii) other persons or groups with special needs.
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Just as the IEBC invoked the word "progressive" in the last section of the new constitution, we invoke the phrase " every election" in the above section of the constitution, hence in every election including the upcoming 2013 elections, voting should be simple (which it will not, with the proposed 3 polling stations only), transparent (which it will NOT be if embassy officials are also used as polling agents), takes into consideration the special needs of disabled persons and other groups with special needs ( which it does NOT because it is requiring ALL Kenyans to have to travel to the 3 polling stations).

We REJECT this attempt at manipulation of the constitution to deny us our right to freely and willfully vote.

We are petitioning for Kenya presidential candidates for the 2013 elections as well as other political leaders who claim to advocate for the interests of the diaspora to rebuke the IEBC’s attempt to suppress our vote. We are not demanding preferential treatment of any sort. Just demanding our constitutionally awarded right. If online voting cannot be implemented and we have to resort to specified Diaspora polling stations, there should be a process in place to ensure that polling stations are conveniently spread out in accessible locales where Kenyan citizens living abroad can travel to vote without incurring any expenses. For the USA, some of these cities (which have large populations) include:
Dallas, Tx
Minneapolis, MN
Atlanta, GA
Kansas City, MO
Colombus, OH
Seattle, WA

Similar consideration should also be given to the diaspora residing in other countries apart from the USA,