The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) may no longer livestream presidential election results if the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is passed into law.
The bill, which incorporates proposals from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) on electoral reforms, eliminates the current requirement for IEBC to livestream polling station results. NADCO, a bipartisan team formed in 2023 to resolve political tensions between the opposition and the government, had recommended several constitutional amendments.
Under the proposed law, presidential election results will be tallied, announced, declared, and electronically transmitted before those of other elective positions. The bill states, “The new section omits provisions requiring IEBC to establish a mechanism for live streaming polling station results for public access.”
Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, the bill is currently at the Committee of the Whole Stage in the Senate.
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Additional proposals include auditing the voter register by a reputable firm to verify the number of valid voters and requiring IEBC to implement a complementary voter identification mechanism. In case of a presidential election, the IEBC must provide critical electoral information within three days, while for other positions, the timeframe extends to seven days.
The bill also mandates Parliament to appoint an independent firm to evaluate the electoral process after every general election. This evaluation will assess the legal framework, procedures, and costs of the electoral process, with a report submitted to Parliament within 90 days of the firm’s appointment.
