New Elections Bill Sparks Fears of Vote Manipulation in 2027

The Elections (Amendment) Bill 2024 in Kenya seeks to eliminate the requirement for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to live-stream election results. Instead, results would be tallied and announced centrally before being electronically disseminated—a change recommended by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) as a way to address disputes from past elections.

The bill proposes replacing the live streaming of presidential results, introduced in the 2022 elections, with a system where results are electronically transmitted to tallying centers within two hours of their announcement at polling stations. Public access to these results would be limited to digital images uploaded to the IEBC portal. Critics argue that this approach significantly reduces public oversight, undermining the real-time accountability offered by live streaming.

Live streaming from the national tallying center has been a vital transparency measure, enabling citizens to closely monitor the electoral process. Critics fear its removal would diminish trust in election outcomes and increase the risk of manipulation.

Opponents of the bill warn it could open the door to electoral malpractice. The absence of live-streaming, they argue, could create opportunities for tampering with results beyond public scrutiny. Allegations have also surfaced about the motivations behind the amendment, with some linking it to a recent National Intelligence Service (NIS) report that predicted unfavorable outcomes for the ruling administration in the 2027 elections.

Also Read:

• Kenya Kwanza Fallout: Mwaura and 13 MPs Expelled from State House Circles

• Energy CS Backs Adani Partnership Despite Legal Challenges and U.S. Scandal

This has fueled suspicions that the proposed changes are politically motivated, aimed at consolidating control over the electoral process.

The bill’s introduction coincides with ongoing efforts to appoint new IEBC commissioners, raising additional concerns about the commission’s independence. Political analysts caution that partisan influence in the appointments process could further compromise the IEBC’s ability to function impartially, exacerbating fears about the integrity of future elections.

Kenya’s electoral history, marked by disputes and allegations of vote tampering, makes the proposed amendments particularly contentious. Observers warn that reversing transparency measures like live streaming could erode public trust in the democratic process.

While the bill also includes provisions to audit the voter register and introduce secure voter identification mechanisms, opposition leaders argue these measures cannot substitute for the accountability provided by live-streaming election results.