Ruto dismisses claims of ban on live-streaming 2027 election results

By  Cecil Odongo

Reporter

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

• The debate over the transmission and public access to election results has intensified ahead of the August 2027 polls.
• The National Assembly said the process of live-streaming remained in place under Section 39(1G) of the Elections Act.

President William Ruto on Sunday dismissed claims that the government is seeking to block the live-streaming of results in the 2027 General Election, accusing opposition leaders of spreading propaganda to mobilise political support.

Speaking during a Sunday service at the Africa Inland Church (AIC) in Mwingi, the President said live-streaming election results was not prohibited and insisted that Kenyans had a right to access election information as soon as it became available.

He challenged opposition leaders to focus on presenting policies and ideas to improve the lives of Kenyans instead of using what he termed misinformation to rally young people behind their political ambitions.

“I have seen they want to create propaganda around election laws that live-streaming has been banned. Nonsense, propaganda, useless fake news. Why would anybody want to stop live-streaming of results? Results are a right of Kenyans. The sooner Kenyans get to know the results, the better for our nation,” he added.

“The young people are the great resource and blessing we have, and we should not abuse and misuse them with propaganda and false information. We saw it in 2024 on the Finance Bill, not because it was wrong but because of propaganda,” Dr Ruto said.

The service was held in Mwingi, the political stronghold of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

Dr Ruto accused opposition leaders of lacking ideas and attempting to exploit young people for their political interests.

“I am asking those leaders who are really bankrupt of ideas and whose only business with our young people is to abuse and misuse them for their selfish political ends with propaganda and nonsense to engage Kenyans on issues that matter,” he said.

The debate over the transmission and public access to election results has intensified ahead of the August 2027 polls, with the government facing questions from opposition leaders and other stakeholders over electoral transparency.

Live-streaming presidential results

Live-streaming would allow citizens, political parties, candidates, journalists and election observers to follow the transmission of results from polling stations and compare them with figures collated and declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Last week, the National Assembly said it had not banned live-streaming, maintaining that the process remained in place under Section 39(1G) of the Elections Act.

“The National Assembly, after public participation on the Bill and guided by the recent judgment, resisted the attempt to interfere with Section 39 as it is currently provided for in the Elections Act and the attendant established procedure for the determination and declaration of election results,” the House said in a statement.

Lawmakers also rejected a proposed amendment by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi seeking to establish a mechanism for live-streaming presidential results announced at constituency tallying centres, including the diaspora vote, at the national results centre.

Dr Ruto also defended his development record, accusing opposition leaders of dismissing his plans before the results began to show.

“Most of them did not believe it was possible, but the word of God says faith without action is dead. Power and leadership without a plan or agenda are also useless and do not benefit anybody,” he said.

Later, during a public rally in Mwingi town, the President turned his criticism on Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro over his opposition to Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote’s reported interest in acquiring shares in Kenya Pipeline Company.

“One is hovering here, having bought shares at Kenya Power, and now opposing other people buying shares in Kenya Pipeline. Mr Shylock and your gang, I want to warn you that I will ensure you do not succeed. Dangote has now bought shares genuinely, and I will not allow blackmail. You just want to make money using unworthy means,” Dr Ruto said in remarks directed at Mr Nyoro.

The President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Alfred Mutua and Rebecca Miano, MPs Vincent Musyoka, Mwengu Mutuse and Charles Nguna, Nominated Senator Beth Syengo, Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke and other leaders.

The leaders urged Mr Musyoka to abandon the opposition and work with the government, arguing that cooperation would accelerate development in the South Eastern region, which they said had been marginalised for years.

Mr Mutua said the Ukambani region has remained behind because of politics of poverty and rallied the region to support President Ruto’s reelection in 2027.

“We call on Kalonzo to continue speaking the truth because some of the projects even in his home areas have been initiated by this government. Now they are telling him in the opposition to deputise Edwin Sifuna yet he is a senior politician and his focus should now be how the people of this region should benefit instead of staying with the opposition,” said Mr Mutua.

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