Korir Sing’oei Opposes Scrapping Live Election Results Transmission
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has defended the live transmission of election results, arguing that the system is critical to electoral transparency and public confidence in Kenya’s democratic process.
Speaking during a media interview ahead of the Trust Summit on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Sing’oei said the real-time transmission of results should be strengthened rather than scrapped, despite concerns over technological failures and cybersecurity risks.
“The idea of results transmission is central,” Sing’oei said, stressing the importance of maintaining mechanisms that allow election results to be transmitted in real time.
His remarks come amid discussions over proposed amendments to Kenya’s elections law, with questions emerging over whether the changes could affect the existing framework for transmitting election results.
However, the PS clarified that he had not reviewed the proposed legislation and could not confirm whether live transmission was among the provisions targeted for amendment.
“I have not interacted with the bill itself, so I may not be in a position to say why this is happening at this point in time,” he said.
Sing’oei added that he was aware of proposed changes to the elections law but was uncertain whether they specifically addressed the transmission of results.
“I know there are some changes that have been proposed to the elections law. I wasn’t quite sure that results transmission is one of them,” he added.
The Foreign Affairs PS said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Parliament were better placed to explain the proposed amendments and their potential implications for the electoral process.
He argued that any meaningful discussion on institutional trust in Kenya must include the electoral agency responsible for conducting elections.
“In the conversation around institutional trust in Kenya, it cannot be complete without the IEBC itself speaking for itself,” he said.
Sing’oei noted that Parliament would also be represented in the discussions, saying the two institutions were best positioned to provide clarity on the proposed legal change
While acknowledging that live transmission can encounter technological glitches that may trigger anxiety among Kenyans, Sing’oei maintained that such challenges should be addressed through improvements to the system rather than its abolition.
He also recognised cybersecurity vulnerabilities as a concern but argued that they should not be used as justification for abandoning real-time transmission.
“We’d like to see that strengthened, not taken away because of complexity,” he said.
Sing’oei called on stakeholders to find solutions that address technical and security weaknesses while preserving the transparency associated with live transmission of election results.
“There might be cybersecurity issues. But all of those things, I think, need to be brought together in a way towards resolving these issues, not so that these issues can become the reason for removing live transmission,” he said.
He made his position clear, adding: “So I would err on the side of live transmission myself.”
His remarks add to the debate over proposed changes to Kenya’s electoral laws, particularly the future of real-time results transmission and its role in promoting transparency and confidence in elections.
However, Sing’oei stopped short of confirming whether the proposed amendments seek to alter the current results transmission framework, leaving the IEBC and Parliament to clarify the scope and rationale of the changes.
