Former Chief Justice and presidential candidate David Maraga has criticised the National Assembly over amendments scrapping the legal requirement for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to livestream polling station results, warning that the move could undermine electoral transparency ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a social media post, Maraga accused Parliament of weakening public oversight of the electoral process, insisting that Kenyans deserve real-time access to election results to safeguard the integrity and credibility of elections.
“Parliament wants to switch off the cameras on our elections,” Maraga stated, describing the legislative changes as a setback for electoral accountability.
He argued that livestreaming polling station results would enable citizens to independently follow the vote-counting process and strengthen public confidence in the outcome of elections.
Maraga also announced that the People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms was working towards securing mandatory electoral reforms before the 2027 polls.
“The People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms is diligently working on mandatory electoral reforms before the 2027 elections,” he said.
The former Chief Justice further urged Kenyans to support efforts to stop the Senate from approving the amendments, which he described as “nefarious.”
His remarks come amid growing debate over proposed changes to election laws and the role of technology in promoting transparency during the transmission and announcement of election results.
The proposed changes have sparked concerns among electoral reform advocates, who maintain that real-time access to polling station results is an important safeguard against electoral manipulation and disputes.
The Senate’s consideration of the amendments is expected to be a key point in the ongoing debate over the legal framework governing the 2027 General Election.
