The Kenyan Parliament has rejected proposed amendments to the law governing election results, according to a parliamentary statement. The Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, which aimed to modify the legal framework around the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), was dismissed by members of parliament. The bill had previously passed through the National Assembly but was not approved by the Senate.
The rejection comes as legal challenges continue over the bill’s provisions. A court has ordered the government to respond within seven days to a petition seeking to block the bill’s progression. The petition argues that the bill would allow live streaming of election results, potentially undermining the integrity of the electoral process. The court also requested that the National Assembly and Senate halt the forward movement of the bill.
This legal battle follows months of debate over the bill’s implications for transparency and accountability in Kenya’s elections. The IEBC has long been a focal point of political controversy, with past disputes over result annulments and electoral malpractice. The current bill was seen by some as an attempt to grant the IEBC more authority, while critics warned it could weaken checks on the commission’s power.
The parliamentary rejection underscores the deep divisions surrounding electoral reforms in Kenya. With the next general elections approaching, the legal and political tensions over the IEBC’s role continue to shape the national discourse.
