The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed media reports claiming that the proposed Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to abolish live transmission of election results and reintroduce a manual voting system similar to that used during the 2007 General Election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission described the reports as misleading and said they misrepresented the contents of the Bill currently before Parliament.
“The media reports are erroneous and a misrepresentation of the Bill as tabled before Parliament,” the Commission said.
The electoral body clarified that the proposed amendments do not seek to repeal Section 44 of the Elections Act, which provides for the use of the Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) for voter registration, voter identification and electronic transmission of election results.
Instead, the Commission said the Bill proposes a complementary mechanism to facilitate the transmission of results in areas where electronic transmission may not be possible due to the lack of the minimum 3G network required to send statutory result forms.
According to the IEBC, the proposed changes are intended to strengthen the electoral process by ensuring results can still be transmitted even in areas with poor network connectivity, without replacing the existing electronic system.
The Commission further explained that the Bill seeks to align Kenya’s electoral laws with the Supreme Court’s decision in Presidential Election Petition No. 1 of 2017, which affirmed that the official election result is the one recorded on the statutory Results Declaration Form 34A at the polling station.
Under the proposed framework, the Commission said election officials will continue to verify results by comparing the original physical Form 34A with the electronically transmitted image of the same form, ensuring consistency and accountability in the tallying process.
The clarification comes amid public debate over the proposed amendments, with concerns raised that the reforms could undermine the transparency of future elections.
However, the IEBC maintained that the proposed Bill is designed to enhance, rather than weaken, the integrity of the electoral process.
“The IEBC remains committed to preserving the integrity, credibility and transparency of the electoral process and ensuring that every election faithfully reflects the sovereign will of the people,” the Commission said.
The proposed Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is currently before Parliament, where it will undergo legislative scrutiny before lawmakers decide whether to approve the proposed changes.
