Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru Exposes What Kenyans May Have Missed in Election Results Debate

Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru has weighed in on the debate surrounding the livestreaming of election results in Kenya, drawing attention to a key legal detail amid public discussion about proposed changes to the country’s electoral laws.

In a statement shared on his official X account, Njiru challenged claims that Parliament had passed a law prohibiting or restricting the livestreaming of election results.

“Section 39 of the Elections Act, Cap. 7 of the Laws of Kenya, has not been amended in any manner that prohibits or restricts the live streaming or public transmission of election results,” the lawyer stated.

Njiru further maintained that no amendment introducing such restrictions had been passed into law, urging the public to pay attention to the actual legal provisions rather than claims circulating during the debate.

His remarks followed reports about the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which sparked questions about whether the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) would still be required to provide a mechanism for livestreaming results announced at polling stations.

However, the National Assembly subsequently clarified that lawmakers had deleted Clause 22 from the version of the Bill passed on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The move retained the existing provision on livestreaming under Section 39 of the Elections Act. The Bill still has to go through the remaining legislative steps before becoming law.

The distinction is important because a proposal contained in a Bill does not automatically become law simply because it appears in an earlier version of the proposed legislation. The final wording approved by Parliament and the completion of the constitutional legislative process determine what changes take effect.

Livestreaming is intended to allow members of the public, journalists, election observers and political party agents to follow the announcement of results at polling stations. It is different from the electronic transmission of results to tallying centres and the publication of official election documents.

The handling and transmission of results remain subjects of public interest, particularly regarding transparency and access to election information, as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.

Source: https://x.com/NjiruAdv/status/2113669360321441838

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