The Kenyan court has ordered the government to respond within seven days to a petition challenging the legal requirement for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to livestream election results. The petition, filed by lawyer Njomo, seeks to halt the National Assembly and Senate from forwarding the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, to the President in a form that would remove the obligation to broadcast results in real time.
The bill, known as Senate Bill No. 29 of 2024, aims to modify the current law governing the dissemination of election results. The court’s order comes after Njomo argued that the proposed changes would undermine transparency and public trust in the electoral process. The petition specifically targets the requirement for live streaming of results at polling stations, which has been a contentious issue in Kenya’s political landscape.
The bill was previously rejected by members of parliament, who claimed it would weaken the legal framework ensuring public access to election data. The National Assembly and Senate have defended the proposal, stating that the changes are necessary to align with modern electoral practices. The court’s decision to grant the government time to respond reflects the ongoing legal and political debate over the balance between transparency and administrative efficiency in Kenya’s electoral system.
