Australia is not among the 12 diaspora countries participating in Kenya’s election
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on August 9, 2022 at 12:38
- Updated on August 9, 2022 at 15:36
- 2 min read
- By Mary KULUNDU, AFP Kenya
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"Diaspora Update: Voting has ended at Kenya High Commission in Canberra, Australia," reads a Facebook post. It also claims that turnout was 100 per cent and Ruto was leading with 319 votes. Another post claimed that Odinga was leading with 198 votes.
A reverse image search shows that the picture illustrating the first Facebook post was captured on August 7, 2022, during a voting simulation exercise in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.
The same claim was repeated on Twitter.
But AFP Fact Check found the claim to be false.
Data from Kenya’s electoral body, the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC), shows Australia is not among the 12 countries where diaspora have the right to vote.
In Africa, Kenyans living in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Africa and South Sudan are able to participate in elections, while countries on other continents include the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Germany and Canada.
“We are not in Australia, we are only in 12 diaspora countries,” IEBC’s head of communication Purity Njeru confirmed to AFP Fact Check.
The Australian High Commission to Kenya was yet to respond at the time of press.
August 9, 2022 ADDS tag for Kenya election
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