Gov’t clarifies livestreaming of poll results retained in Elections Bill

Government Reassures Kenyans as Elections Bill Retains Livestreaming of Results

The government has reassured Kenyans that the livestreaming of election results will remain a legal requirement ahead of the 2027 General Election, following public concern over proposed changes to the Elections Act.

State Department for Parliamentary Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Aurelia Rono said the National Assembly had retained the provision requiring the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to establish a mechanism for livestreaming results announced at polling stations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 24, 2026, Rono dismissed reports suggesting that Parliament had scrapped the requirement, explaining that lawmakers had removed a clause that sought to amend Section 39 of the Elections Act.
The clarification came after the National Assembly passed the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, with amendments on October 22, sparking debate over transparency and public access to election results.

According to Rono, the decision to remove Clause 22 followed a High Court judgment delivered on September 22, 2026, which upheld the constitutionality of Section 39 of the Elections Act and Regulation 83(2) of the Elections (General) Regulations.
The existing law requires the IEBC to establish a mechanism for livestreaming results announced at polling stations.

The provision also states that streamed results are intended to inform the public and are not, on their own, the basis for the commission’s final declaration of results.
The debate over livestreaming has raised concerns among political leaders and members of the public, who view access to results as an important part of electoral transparency.
Livestreaming allows citizens, journalists, political party agents and election observers to follow results as they are announced at polling stations. This enables them to compare the announced figures with results later transmitted to tallying centres.

The government has maintained that the legal requirement remains intact and urged Kenyans to rely on official information when following developments surrounding electoral reforms.
The Bill contains other proposed changes to election laws, including provisions on voter registration, political party nominations and the procedures for recalling elected Members of Parliament.
Following the National Assembly’s amendments, the Bill is expected to return to the Senate for consideration in accordance with Article 110(4) of the Constitution.

With the 2027 General Election approaching, the debate over election results and public access to information continues to place electoral transparency at the centre of national discussions.