President William Ruto has rejected claims of a ban on livestreaming election results.
President William Ruto says Kenyans should receive results promptly as Parliament defends the livestreaming requirement and critics challenge proposed electoral changes.
President William Ruto has dismissed claims of an election results livestreaming ban as propaganda. He insisted that Kenyans should receive election results as early as possible.
His remarks come amid debate over proposed Elections Act amendments ahead of the 2027 General Election. The dispute centres on whether the changes could weaken public access to results announced at polling stations.
Parliament defends election results livestreaming provision
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has also rejected claims that MPs removed the livestreaming requirement. He said the House instead deleted a clause seeking to amend Section 39 of the Elections Act.
Parliament maintains that the existing provision remains intact. It requires the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to establish a mechanism for livestreaming results announced at polling stations.
The State Department for Parliamentary Affairs has likewise said the National Assembly retained the requirement. The Bill is expected to return to the Senate for consideration of MPs’ changes.
Those assurances address claims that Parliament removed the livestreaming provision. However, opposition leaders, lawyers and civil society organisations continue to question the broader proposals and their implications for transparency.
Critics seek clear public access safeguards
Critics argue that livestreaming allows voters, political parties, journalists and election observers to watch polling-station announcements. They say this access also helps the public compare announced figures with official records.
However, they distinguish electronic transmission to tallying centres from public access to live announcements. Sending figures electronically, they argue, does not necessarily allow people to watch the results process in real time.
Some have therefore urged the government and Parliament to explicitly protect public access within the legal framework. Their concerns focus on preserving safeguards that allow scrutiny ahead of the 2027 polls.
High Court petition challenges proposed changes
Meanwhile, advocate John Muremi Njomo has filed a petition challenging aspects of the amendments concerning results transmission and livestreaming. The High Court has certified the petition as urgent, with further directions scheduled.
Section 39 governs the determination, transmission and declaration of election results. The IEBC manages these processes as part of its responsibility to conduct and supervise elections.
The legislative process and legal challenge therefore remain active, despite the government’s assurances on livestreaming.
