Kenya electoral reform bill seeks to abolish national tallying centre

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi is preparing to introduce an Elections Amendment Bill in Parliament to reform how presidential results are handled ahead of the 2027 General Election. The proposed legislation, supported by the People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms, seeks to abolish the national tallying centre and limit the role of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson. Under the bill, the chairperson would only be permitted to aggregate and announce results as declared by returning officers at constituency tallying centres, without the authority to re-tally or re-verify figures already declared at the constituency level.

This legislative push follows a High Court ruling that upheld the national tallying centre but prohibited the IEBC from altering results previously declared at the constituency level. The coalition argues that results should be transmitted and made public directly from constituency centres to prevent delays or alterations.

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has also voiced strong opposition to the current electoral process, warning IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon against vote manipulation. Natembeya argued that the electronic transmission and subsequent re-tallying at a central location create opportunities for results manipulation, advocating instead for a system where the president-elect is known shortly after polling stations close.