Ruto Responds to Claims of Parliament Banning Live Streaming of Election Results Ahead of 2027 Polls

President William Ruto has addressed claims that Parliament voted to stop the livestreaming of election results, insisting that Kenyans had been misled about the legislative changes.

Speaking on Sunday, October 25, during a church service at Africa Inland Church (AIC) Kasina in Mwingi Constituency, Kitui County, Ruto accused unnamed political leaders of spreading propaganda for their own interests.

The president questioned why anyone would want to prevent Kenyans from accessing election results. He maintained that the public should receive results promptly and urged politicians to avoid spreading information that could create unnecessary tension ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“The sooner Kenyans get to know the results of an election, the better for our nation,” Ruto said, emphasising the importance of timely access to election information.

The controversy followed reports that Parliament had removed a provision requiring election results to be livestreamed. The reports sparked debate on social media, with concerns emerging about transparency and public access to results before the next election.

However, the National Assembly’s explanation focused on the deletion of Clause 22 of the election bill rather than a decision to abolish the existing legal provision. According to the information provided, the clause proposed amendments to Section 39 of the Elections Act, which governs the transmission and declaration of election results.

The House said removing the clause left the existing law unchanged, including the livestreaming requirement under Section 39(1G). This distinction is central to understanding the disagreement: deleting a proposed amendment is different from repealing a requirement already contained in the law.

Ruto also compared the controversy to the debate surrounding the 2024 Finance Bill, saying misinformation had contributed to public anger during that period. He urged leaders to focus their engagement with young people on education, employment and economic opportunities.

The debate leaves election transparency firmly in the national conversation as Kenya approaches 2027. Parliament’s explanation and the precise wording of the existing law remain important for Kenyans seeking to understand what the legislative decision means in practice.

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