Elections Bill drops livestreaming rule for IEBC, sparking calls for Monday protests
MPs passed changes on Thursday that remove the legal duty to livestream polling-station results, and online campaigners are calling for protests on 26 October.
Based on reporting by Citizen Digital and The Eastleigh Voice.
What the Elections Bill changes on results, as passed by the National Assembly. Graphic: StarNews
The Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill passed by the National Assembly on Thursday removes the legal requirement for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to livestream results as they are announced at polling stations, Citizen Digital reported.
Under the changed clause, the IEBC would still transmit results electronically, verify the figures and publish polling-station results forms on an online portal. It could still choose to livestream results, but the law would no longer require it to, The Eastleigh Voice reported.
The same Bill sets the new threshold for recalling an MP at one-third of registered voters in every ward. It is sponsored by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, and is meant to put recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) into law.
On X, posts using the hashtag #RejectElectionBill2024 are calling for protests on Monday, 26 October. No organisers have been named and no venue has been announced, and no police statement on the planned protests had been reported by Friday night.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga said the Constitution requires transparent elections. "No law is superior to our Katiba," he said. Former Attorney General Justin Muturi said his Democratic Party opposes any change that could weaken public scrutiny of results. The Bill's sponsors had not responded publicly to the criticism in reports seen by StarNews.
Citizen Digital reported that the Bill now returns to the Senate, which must consider the National Assembly's amendments before it can go to the President. It is not yet law.
