The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has moved to quash reports that it plans to stop the live streaming of election results, with Chairperson Erastus Ethekon insisting the electoral body has never discussed or proposed such a move and remains committed to ensuring elections are conducted openly and transparently.
Addressing a consultative forum in Nairobi on the draft Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026, Ethekon dismissed the reports as false, saying they had created unnecessary public concern over the commission's commitment to openness.
"Yesterday we woke up to the headlines, to the news that IEBC has made proposals to stop live streaming of election results," Ethekon said. "There is nothing like that whatsoever."
He maintained that the commission has no intention of limiting media access to election activities, saying journalists remain an important part of ensuring accountability throughout the electoral process.
"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," he said.
Ethekon further clarified that the commission has neither adopted such a position internally nor forwarded any proposal to Parliament seeking to outlaw the live broadcasting of election results.
"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," he said.
Instead, he highlighted the commission's continued partnership with the media, noting that IEBC recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kenya Media Sector Group, whose members include the Kenya Union of Journalists and the Kenya Editors Guild, to improve public access to election information.
"We signed an MOU... that enables us to collaborate and partner with the media for the media to scrutinize, for the media to work with us to ensure that we educate and inform Kenyans on the processes that we are undertaking as a commission, including the live streaming of our election processes," he said.
According to Ethekon, the media has consistently covered polling stations and tallying centres during previous by-elections, and the commission expects the same level of cooperation during future elections.
"The media has always been there, and it shall continue to be there as long as we serve the interests of the public and Kenyans," he said.
He warned against the spread of misleading information about the electoral process, saying such claims risk damaging public trust in elections.
"Anything that undermines the integrity of elections stands condemned by this commission," he said.
The clarification comes after widespread discussion surrounding the proposed Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to remove Section 39(1G) of the Elections Act requiring IEBC to establish a mechanism for the live streaming of results announced at polling stations.
If passed, the amendment would remove the legal requirement for live broadcasts of election results, although electronic transmission of results would still remain in force.
The proposal has sparked debate among stakeholders, with constitutional lawyer Bobby Mkangi arguing that removing the provision could weaken transparency measures introduced after the 2007 post-election violence and affect constitutional principles on credible and verifiable elections.
Even so, Ethekon maintained that the commission was not behind the proposed change and reaffirmed its commitment to working with the media to promote transparent, credible and accountable elections.
He also said the commission is finalising public participation on the draft Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026, which will guide campaign financing ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to Ethekon, the regulations are designed to create a level playing field by setting rules on campaign accounts, declaration of donations, spending limits, audits of campaign finances and compliance requirements.
"The objective is not to constrain political party participation, but to strike an appropriate balance between facilitating meaningful campaigns and safeguarding the integrity, fairness, and the credibility of the electoral process," he said.
He added that the commission intends to compile public submissions, approve the regulations and forward them to Parliament by August so they can take effect ahead of the next General Election.