Kenyans to protest proposed changes to IEBC livestreaming rules

Kenyans protesting in the streets during past demos. (Photo: James Wakibia/SOPA Images/Sipa USA/Picture Alliance)

Kenyans are mobilising to protest on Monday, October 26, against proposed changes to election transparency rules following Parliament’s passage of the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga, former Attorney General Justin Muturi and former Law Society of Kenya chairperson Faith Odhiambo have criticised the proposed changes, warning that they could weaken public scrutiny of the electoral process.

The National Assembly passed the Bill on October 22, 2026. Clause 22 seeks to replace Section 39 of the Elections Act, retaining provisions for electronic transmission of presidential results and online publication of polling-station results forms but not expressly requiring livestreaming of results announcements.

Maraga said the Constitution requires elections to be accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent.

“The Constitution is clear. The electoral system must be ‘accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent’. No law is superior to our Katiba,” he said.

He pledged to work with the People’s Coalition for Electoral Reforms to oppose changes he considers a rollback of electoral safeguards, citing the 2007/08 post-election violence as a reminder of the importance of protecting electoral integrity.

Muturi said the Democratic Party opposed any proposal that could undermine public scrutiny of election results.

“Kenyans did not fight for multiparty democracy to be subjected to an electoral process shrouded in secrecy,” he said.

Odhiambo urged Parliament to clarify whether the omission of the livestreaming requirement remained in the version approved by MPs.

She argued that electronic transmission and livestreaming serve different purposes, with the latter allowing citizens to watch results being announced in real time.

The proposed changes would not necessarily prevent the IEBC from livestreaming results voluntarily, but would remove the express legal requirement under the provision.

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi also raised concerns during parliamentary debate about changes to the framework for tallying, verifying and communicating presidential results.