Kenya National Assembly passes Elections Amendment Bill 2024

The Kenyan National Assembly has passed the Elections Amendment Bill 2024, a legislative package that introduces significant changes to the country’s electoral processes ahead of the August 2027 General Election.

A key provision of the bill involves repealing Section 39 of the Elections Act. This change removes the legal requirement for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to livestream election results directly from polling stations. While the IEBC must still determine, declare, and publish results immediately after polling closes, it will no longer be legally obligated to provide a live feed. Proponents argue this move avoids legal vulnerabilities associated with previous electronic transmission issues, while critics express concern over reduced transparency.

Additionally, the bill seeks to transfer the mandate for resolving internal political party primary disputes from the IEBC to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal. Supporters of this shift argue that political parties should function as private entities, whereas opponents warn that removing IEBC oversight could disadvantage women, youth, and marginalized groups during the nomination process. The legislation also includes clauses regarding the recall of Members of Parliament convicted of certain offences.