Maraga Leads Push for Electoral Transparency as Coalition Challenges Elections Amendment Bill

Story by Monyonge O’kebati

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has renewed calls for transparency and accountability in Kenya’s electoral process as the People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms steps up its opposition to proposed changes to election laws ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Maraga, who is the coalition’s co-convenor and co-party leader of the United Green Movement, addressed the media in Nairobi on Monday, October 26, 2026, after reading a statement outlining the coalition’s position on the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024.

The former Chief Justice was accompanied by other coalition leaders during the media briefing, which comes amid an ongoing national debate over the management, transmission and verification of election results.

The coalition’s intervention comes as political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders debate proposed amendments to the Elections Act, with particular attention on the transparency of the presidential results management process.

Dispute over transmission of election results

One of the major issues surrounding the proposed amendments is whether the law should expressly require the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to livestream election results as they are announced at polling stations.

Maraga has previously argued that the public should be able to follow the transmission and publication of election results in real time, rather than relying solely on information available at the commission’s tallying centres.

He has cited Article 86 of the Constitution, which requires the electoral system to be accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent.

The former Chief Justice has also called on the IEBC to publish results on its website as they are received, saying this would allow citizens and other stakeholders to independently scrutinise the figures.

The coalition’s concerns come against the backdrop of heightened preparations for the 2027 General Election, when the credibility of the electoral process is expected to remain a central public issue.

Bill undergoes further parliamentary consideration

The Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, also proposes changes touching on voter registration, political party nominations, the recall of elected representatives and the resolution of electoral disputes.

The National Assembly passed the Bill with amendments on October 22, 2026, after considering the proposals and engaging stakeholders through the relevant parliamentary processes.

The legislation must, however, undergo further consideration by the Senate to resolve differences between the two Houses before completing the constitutional lawmaking process.

The distinction is significant because the Bill has not yet become an enacted law.

As the debate continues, the coalition’s position places renewed focus on the safeguards needed to ensure that electoral procedures are transparent and that citizens can scrutinise the process through which their votes are counted, transmitted and declared.

The coalition’s statement adds to the wider discussion about the legal and institutional reforms required before the next General Election.