A new petition before Parliament is seeking to change how ballot papers are prepared by allowing political candidates to include the names they are popularly known by, with supporters saying the move would help voters identify candidates more easily during the 2027 General Election.
The petition, presented by Wajir resident Mohamed Alasow, asks Parliament to revive and pass the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021. He argues that many Kenyans recognise candidates by their nicknames or commonly used names instead of the official names appearing on identification documents.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has referred the petition to the Senate Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee, which has been given 60 calendar days to examine the proposal and table its findings before the House.
According to the petitioner, the current format of ballot papers creates unnecessary challenges for many voters, particularly those in rural and marginalised areas, where candidates are widely known by names that differ from those captured in official records.
“Many Kenyan voters, particularly those in rural and marginalised communities, know candidates by their popular names rather than their official names,” the petition says.
Alasow says the absence of commonly known names on ballot papers has contributed to voter confusion, mistaken identity of candidates and spoilt ballots during elections.
He believes allowing candidates to display their popular names together with their official names would make voting easier, improve accuracy during elections and strengthen public trust in the electoral process.
“The inclusion of popular names will enhance voter identification of candidates, reduce voter confusion and electoral errors, promote inclusivity, especially among less literate voters, strengthen electoral transparency and integrity and increase public confidence in elections,” the petition says.
The petitioner is asking Parliament to prioritise the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and ensure it is enacted before the 2027 General Election. He also wants institutions involved in managing elections, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, to begin preparing for the proposed changes if they are approved.
“I humbly pray that Parliament re-introduces the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021, that the Bill be prioritised before the 2027 general elections and that relevant institutions prepare for its implementation,” Alasow says in the petition.
He says the proposed amendments would make elections more inclusive by making it easier for voters to identify the candidates they intend to vote for.
The petition relies on several provisions of the Constitution, including Article 1 on the sovereignty of the people, Article 10 on national values and principles of governance, Article 38 on political rights and Article 81, which outlines the principles of Kenya's electoral system.
It also cites Article 119 of the Constitution, which gives every person the right to petition Parliament on matters within its mandate, including the enactment, amendment or repeal of legislation.