Kenyans Get Clarification on Live Election Results Ahead of 2027

There was confusion among Kenyans this week over whether they would still be able to watch election results being streamed live during the 2027 General Election. Reports that MPs had removed the requirement from the law quickly spread online, leaving many people wondering how they would follow results as they are announced at polling stations.

The issue came from changes made to the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024. The National Assembly later clarified that MPs had deleted Clause 22 of the Bill, which had proposed changes to Section 39 of the Elections Act. By removing that clause, Parliament said the existing provision requiring the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to establish a mechanism for livestreaming results remained in place.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah also dismissed reports that MPs had done away with live streaming. He said Section 39(1G) of the Elections Act remains unchanged and still requires the IEBC to provide a mechanism for livestreaming results announced at polling stations. The streamed results are meant to give the public information and are not, on their own, the basis for the commission’s declaration of results.

For Kenyans, the clarification means that the debate over election transparency is still very much alive ahead of the 2027 polls. Watching results come in from polling stations has become an important way for many people to follow the election. For now, Parliament says that requirement remains in the law, although the Bill still has to complete the legislative process before it becomes law.

Source : https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DQSGftDCt/

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