Abu Dhabi: Kenyan expatriates in the UAE hope that general elections back home will make positive changes, despite their disappointment about not being able to cast their votes.
An estimated 40,000 Kenyans are living in the UAE. The expatriates who spoke to Gulf News on Tuesday said that many of their compatriots have travelled back home to cast their vote but they could not do so due to work commitments. They said there were some indications that there would be an arrangement for voting in the UAE, which did not materialise.
“I am very unhappy [for not being able to vote] because I had a preferred candidate,” said Jonathan Tungu, 29, a senior procurement manager living in Dubai for 8 years.
However, he is confident that this election will take the country forward to a new positive phase. “We are moving forward. This time the campaign has been very healthy and competitive, which reflects a matured democracy,” Tungu said.
Sally Makale, 40, a service delivery officer with an airline in Dubai, said she was excited about her compatriots’ commitment to democracy. “My friend flew to Kenya yesterday evening only to cast his vote and would come back tonight. Despite his work commitments, he took just one-day off only for this purpose.”
Although unhappy about not being able to vote, she expects that a new leader will be elected, who will do good for the nation.
John Gichuki, 40, an engineer in Dubai, said this election represented a new phase in the political and democratic history of the nation. “Definitely it will bring some positive changes,” said Gichuki who could also not vote in the past three consecutive elections during his 11-year long overseas life.
Pennina Nyokabi, 40, organising secretary of Kenyan Welfare Association (KEWA) in Dubai, said the elections would create a new political and social climate of peace. “We dream of a peaceful nation. Kenyans are a learned people and they can make the right choice,” Nyokabi said.
She said although Kenyans in the UAE were disappointed about not having the facility to vote here, she sincerely hoped that Kenyan authorities would make it happen at least for the next general election. The Kenyan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai were not available for comments about the issue.
