Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has called for reforms to allow police and other security officers to vote during elections, arguing that thousands of officers are unfairly denied their constitutional right because they are deployed away from their registered polling stations on election day.
Speaking before the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights and Foreign Relations on Wednesday, Sifuna sought a statement on measures being taken to enable serving officers to participate in elections without affecting security operations.
The senator said Article 38 of the Constitution guarantees every Kenyan citizen the right to vote by secret ballot, but many officers miss the opportunity to cast their votes because they are assigned election duties far from their voting stations.
Voting Rights for Officers
Sifuna noted that advances in electoral technology and voting arrangements already available to Kenyans living abroad show that solutions can be found to ensure security officers are not disenfranchised.
He asked the committee to explain the legal, policy and administrative measures being developed by the State Law Office in collaboration with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to facilitate voting by officers on active duty during elections.
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The senator also sought clarification on safeguards that would ensure police and security officers vote freely, fairly and secretly without intimidation or influence from their superiors.
In addition, he wanted the committee to state whether officers traveling to vote would receive adequate transport and sufficient time off duty while ensuring election security remains intact.
The issue has been debated for years, particularly during general elections when thousands of police officers are deployed across the country to provide security at polling stations and tallying centers.
Sifuna’s request is expected to reopen discussions on possible mechanisms such as early voting, special polling arrangements or other alternatives that would allow officers to participate in elections while remaining politically neutral.
Sifuna on Nzoia Sugar Crisis
In a separate request, Sifuna turned attention to the challenges facing sugarcane farmers linked to Nzoia Sugar Company in Bungoma County and other parts of the country.
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He told the Senate that many farmers continue to struggle with historical arrears, delayed payments, corruption in the issuance of harvesting permits, and inadequate welfare support despite ongoing efforts to revive the sugar sector.
According to the senator, persistent management and financial challenges at Nzoia Sugar have pushed farmers and residents into repeated protests as confidence in the company’s future continues to decline.
Sifuna asked the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to explain when outstanding arrears owed to farmers will be settled and what guarantees exist to ensure timely payments in future.
He also sought clarification on measures being taken to strengthen oversight of leaseholders managing sugar factories and ensure they remain responsive to the needs of local communities and employees, particularly in relation to fair labor practices and remuneration.
The Nairobi senator further demanded a report on steps being implemented to eliminate corruption in cane harvesting permits, a long-standing complaint among farmers in sugar-growing regions.
He urged the committee to outline how communities that donated land for factories and estates would benefit through improved milling operations, job creation and sustainable development programs.
The Nzoia Sugar crisis is rooted in years of financial troubles, mismanagement, delayed payments to farmers and workers, aging machinery, and declining cane production.
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