By the 254.ke Newsroom.
MPs are moving to scrap the legal requirement that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) livestream election results from polling stations, a change that would apply to the 2027 General Election. Techweez reports the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill is at the final stage in the National Assembly before a vote, while The Standard reports that MPs have already removed the requirement. The IEBC says livestreaming is not what makes results official.
What does the bill change?
The Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill was sponsored by Senators Aaron Cheruiyot and Stewart Madzayo and came out of the National Dialogue Committee process, according to Techweez. The Senate passed it in December 2024. It would remove the duty on the IEBC to livestream results as polling stations announce them.
The Bill also deletes wording that a 2017 amendment put into the Elections Act, which said livestreamed results were for public information only and could not be used to declare a winner. The High Court struck that wording down in 2018 after a petition by Katiba Institute.
What stays the same?
- Results announced at polling stations remain final.
- Presidential results must still be transmitted electronically within two hours.
- The IEBC must still verify figures against what polling stations announced.
- Signed results forms stay on a public website.
- Television stations and election observers can still broadcast results independently.
What does the IEBC say?
The commission’s position, as reported by Techweez, is that livestreaming "is not what makes election results official"; Form 34A is the official record of the presidential vote, following the Supreme Court’s 2017 ruling. It argues that removing the unconstitutional wording makes the law clearer, and that viewers could mistake live figures for final results before verification, which it says can fuel confusion and disputes.
Why are transparency concerns being raised?
The Standard’s report says the move raises fresh concerns over electoral transparency ahead of 2027. Techweez notes the Bill does not say how soon each polling station’s form must appear online, and that the 2018 ruling did not order the IEBC to stop livestreaming. The same piece says a 2022 attempt to end livestreaming of presidential results was rejected by the justice committee, and cites former Speaker Justin Muturi as having described live results as a common democratic practice.
This is the latest in a run of election-preparation stories. See our earlier reports on the suspended KIEMS tender, the start of IEBC vetting and the High Court ruling on the election date.
Frequently asked questions
Will Kenyans still see results on election night?
Probably, through broadcasters and observers, who remain free to report results independently. What would change is the legal obligation on the IEBC to stream them itself.
Is the bill law yet?
As of October 23, 2026, reports differ on the exact stage: Techweez describes it as awaiting a final National Assembly vote, and The Standard says MPs have removed the requirement. Check the National Assembly order paper for the latest status.
What is Form 34A?
It is the results form completed and signed at each polling station, treated as the official record of the presidential vote. See the IEBC website for official election information.
Sources: Techweez (Oct 21, 2026); The Standard (Oct 2026); headline reporting by Nation Africa.
