Kenyan petition seeks to preserve live election results broadcasts
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Citizen
Lawyer John Muremi Njomo is asking the High Court in Milimani to prevent the removal of live-streaming of results announced at polling stations. The petition targets a provision in an electoral bill before Kenya’s presidential election scheduled for 10 August 2027, according to court filings.
Kenyan lawyer John Muremi Njomo has petitioned the High Court in Milimani to prevent Parliament from sending the president an electoral law that would remove the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) obligation to livestream results announced at polling stations.
The petition targets clause 22 of the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, also known as Senate Bill No. 29 of 2024. John Muremi Njomo is seeking the suspension of the provision and the preservation of the current legal framework so that the IEBC can continue its preparations for the general election scheduled for 10 August 2027 and any possible by-elections.
The petition follows the bill’s adoption by the National Assembly. The text, introduced by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, is intended in particular to implement recommendations by the National Dialogue Committee and amend several provisions of the 2011 electoral law. The Attorney General, the National Assembly and the Senate are respondents, while the IEBC is an interested party, according to Citizen.
The petition also asks for the case to be recognised as raising an important question of constitutional law. This classification would allow the Chief Justice to appoint at least three judges to hear it. The petition follows the scrapping of live-streaming of election results, announced on 23 October.
