Ruto on Why He is Against Ban on Livestreaming of 2027 Election Results

President William Ruto has defended Kenyans’ right to access election results while declaring his stand on livestreaming of 2027 election.

Ruto maintained that election results are a matter of public interest, insisting that Kenyans have a right to know the outcome of their votes.

He accusee the opposition of spreading misinformation that the government has moved to ban the livestreaming of results ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He accused opposition leaders of misleading the public over changes to the country’s electoral laws.

The debate follows the passage of the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, by the National Assembly on Thursday, October 22, 2026.

The proposed legislation has attracted attention amid concerns about whether the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will continue livestreaming election results.

However, the State Department for Parliamentary Affairs has clarified that the livestreaming requirement remains in the Bill.

Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Aurelia Rono explained that the National Assembly deleted a clause that sought to amend Section 39 of the Elections Act after considering a High Court judgment delivered on September 22, 2026.

According to Rono, the decision preserved the existing legal provision requiring the IEBC to establish a mechanism for livestreaming election results under Section 39(1G).

The clarification contradicts reports suggesting that Parliament had removed the livestreaming requirement, a development that had raised concerns among Kenyans and opposition leaders.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has also opposed any attempts to weaken transparency in the electoral process.

He argued that Article 86 of the Constitution requires elections to be accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent.

Maraga has called for election results to be published on the IEBC website as they are received, allowing Kenyans to follow the tallying process without relying solely on information available at physical tallying centres.

The Bill will now return to the Senate for consideration following the amendments made by the National Assembly.

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