Live Streaming of Election Results Stays After MPs Delete Clause 22
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino addressing the media during a press briefing on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The National Assembly deleted Clause 22 of the Election (Amendment) Bill on Thursday last week, the clause that would have changed Section 39 of the Election Act, leaving in force the provisions on live streaming of election results, the government has said.
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino on Monday dismissed social media reports claiming that Parliament had scrapped mandatory live streaming of results, calling them false and a misrepresentation of what MPs decided.
Briefing journalists at Harambee House Annex in Nairobi, Owino said Section 39, which covers the management and transmission of election results, including their live streaming by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), remains in force without the proposed changes.
He said the clause had proposed replacing the section, but MPs deleted it on 22 October as directed by the High Court. The court had, on 22 September, upheld the constitutionality of Section 39 and told the National Assembly to have regard to its interpretation when finalising the bill.
“Responsible reporting and the rejection of misinformation are essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process,” Owino said, asking the public and the media to verify information from official parliamentary records, court decisions and applicable law before sharing it.
The Election (Amendment) No. 2 Bill originated from the Senate and was introduced in the National Assembly on 13 February 2025. It was among the bills associated with the National Dialogue Committee process. While the bill was being considered, petitions were filed in the High Court challenging the constitutionality of Section 39.
Owino also gave an update on the building that collapsed in Eastleigh last week, saying rescuers have gone through about half of the debris. Two people, a man and a woman, have been rescued alive and are in stable condition in hospital.
The question of whether approvals were issued for the building has been referred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for investigation and possible prosecution. Owino thanked Eastleigh residents for their patience and support as the operation continues.
The government also responded to complaints over alleged excessive tree felling in the Aberdare ecosystem. Owino said the trees being harvested are mature commercial cypress that have reached rotation age, and that many had developed defects that cause them to fall, leading to commercial loss.
He said the Forest Department allowed the harvesting through online applications by qualified sawmillers, in line with procurement law, and that all those awarded are lawful operators from counties within the ecosystem. The government plans to establish new plantations under the Plantation Establishment and Livelihood Improvement scheme, which lets local residents grow crops for their own use and for sale for three years until the trees form a full canopy.
A Member of Parliament has taken the matter to court, and the process has been paused for two weeks, according to the spokesperson. Owino said the government will comply with the rule of law.
On the national assessments for primary and junior school candidates, Owino wished all candidates well but warned that legal action will be taken against anyone, whether a candidate, administrator, teacher or any other person, who tries to compromise the integrity of the examinations.
