Kenya's National Assembly has confirmed that the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, retains the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's legal duty to livestream polling-station results. The clarification comes as the bill returns to the Senate after passing the National Assembly.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah defended the proposed changes to Kenya’s electoral laws. He stated that the bill maintains the requirement for the IEBC to broadcast results in real time. This follows concerns raised about the transparency of the process. The bill was initially introduced to address issues related to the 2022 presidential election.
The debate over livestreaming election results has been a point of contention. Critics argued that the practice could compromise the integrity of the electoral process. However, the National Assembly has reaffirmed its stance that the IEBC must continue its role in ensuring public transparency. The bill now moves to the Senate for further review and potential approval.
The 2022 election saw significant public interest in real-time results, with some observers calling for greater accountability. The amendment aims to balance transparency with the need for secure data handling. The National Assembly’s decision reflects ongoing efforts to refine Kenya’s electoral framework.
