The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed reports that it is seeking to end the live streaming of election results, insisting that it has not presented any proposal to Parliament on abolishing the practice ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the Stakeholder Engagement on the Draft Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026 on Thursday, July 30, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said reports that the commission wanted to stop live streaming of election results were false.
He assured Kenyans that the commission had not taken such a position and reaffirmed that transparency remains one of IEBC’s guiding principles.
“Yesterday we woke up to the headlines, to the news, that IEBC has made proposals to stop live streaming of election results, and I can see the internet is abuzz with all that,” said Ethekon.
“I would like to assure the people of Kenya that there is nothing like that whatsoever, that IEBC, this Commission stands for transparency and accountability, and we will be the last people to make any decision or any proposals to stifle the freedom of media to check what we are doing, including live streaming of the election processes.”
Ethekon questioned the origin of the reports, saying the commission had neither resolved internally nor submitted any proposal to Parliament seeking to stop the live streaming of election results.
“Whoever manufactured that story, we need to know where they found those stories from, but as IEBC we want to state here categorically that we have not made any such decision, neither have we made any proposals to Parliament to try and stop live streaming,” stated the IEBC Chairperson.
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IEBC Plans to Strengthen Election Communication
Even as it denied the reports, the commission said it is seeking additional funding from Parliament and the National Treasury to improve how it communicates with Kenyans during elections.
Ethekon said the IEBC plans to invest in communication technology, recruit skilled personnel and enhance public engagement to keep voters informed throughout the electoral process.
“We are saying IEBC requires money or funding for us to engage with stakeholders, for us to invest in communication, both getting the gadgets, getting the right people to run our communication, so that at any particular time we are able to give Kenyans the correct information and to clarify certain information that may not be true that are likely to affect the ability of the Commission to discharge its mandate.”
He added that the commission is preparing to improve its communication capacity ahead of the 2027 General Election by investing in modern tools and qualified personnel capable of responding to misinformation.
According to Ethekon, IEBC also intends to continue working with media organizations to ensure verified election information reaches the public promptly.
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Reports Followed Proposed Changes to Election Law
The clarification comes after reports linked the commission to a proposed amendment to the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to repeal Section 39(1G) of the Elections Act.
The provision currently requires the commission to establish a mechanism for the live streaming of election results as they are announced at polling stations.
The proposal generated debate among political leaders, governance experts and civil society groups, with critics arguing that removing the provision could weaken transparency during elections.
However, Ethekon maintained that the proposed amendment did not originate from the commission and insisted IEBC remains committed to open, transparent and accountable elections.
He said the commission would continue partnering with the media during elections to ensure Kenyans receive accurate and credible information in real time.
“And so we believe we will continue partnering with the media, even during our elections,” said the IEBC Chairperson.
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