The proposed Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, could eliminate the livestreaming of election results, a crucial element for maintaining transparency and public trust. This bill seeks to amend the Elections Act by removing the requirement for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to establish a mechanism for livestreaming results as they are announced at polling stations. If this amendment passes, the live results displayed by the IEBC at the National Tallying Centre may not be available during the 2027 elections.
Historically, the media has relied on these livestreamed statistics to keep the public informed. Livestreaming serves as a vital transparency safeguard, implemented to ensure the credibility of presidential elections following the turmoil of the 2007 polls.
The proposed change is outlined in Section 19 of the Bill, which specifically aims to amend Section 39 of the Elections Act by deleting subsection (1G). Under the current law, Section 39(1G) mandates that the IEBC must create a mechanism for livestreaming results as they are announced at polling stations. Furthermore, the law states that these streamed results are intended solely for public information.
Without this statutory guarantee, Kenyans may lose the ability to watch election results being announced in real-time at polling stations, which could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. It is crucial for citizens to remain vigilant and advocate for transparency in our democratic processes.
