MP Caroli Omondi to table Bill seeking removal of national tallying centre, limiting IEBC powers

The People’s Coalition on Electoral Reforms plans to table an Elections Amendment Bill in Parliament next week, seeking changes to electoral laws ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The coalition wants the role of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson limited to aggregating and announcing presidential results as declared at constituency tallying centres.

It is also seeking the removal of the national tallying centre.

The push for changes to the Elections Act comes hours after the High Court upheld the national tallying centre but barred the IEBC from altering presidential results already declared at constituency level.

The ruling followed a petition filed by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and other leaders.

The court also urged Parliament to tighten electoral laws ahead of the 2027 General Election. The People’s Coalition says it wants the law amended to reflect that position.

The Elections Amendment Bill, which is expected to be tabled next week by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, seeks to clarify the tallying and declaration of presidential results.

The coalition wants the IEBC Chairperson to only aggregate and announce results as declared at constituency tallying centres, without re-tallying or re-verifying the figures.

"There was a holding that Section 39 and Regulation 83 and 87 are unconstitutional, and the cure is to have the amendments passed in Parliament according to Judge Mutua," Katto Wambua, Secretary General of the UGM Party, said.

The coalition also wants the national tallying centre removed, arguing that constituency results should be transmitted and made public without alteration or delay.

"We have to remove the law that wants to retain a tallying centre to alter and delay results already announced at constituency level," Muthoni Ouko, a member of the People’s Coalition, said.

The proposed changes would also require the IEBC Chairperson to announce the presidential winner based on results received from constituency returning officers.

"The Chair shall, in an open space in the capital city, aggregate and announce total votes as sent by the returning officer, no alteration," Neto Agostinho, a member of the People’s Coalition, said.

The coalition alleges that gaps in the current law could be exploited to manipulate figures at the national tallying centre.

"We want even if Ruto wins, he wins fairly. We can see the government isn’t interested to amend the law, as it’s clear at the national tallying centre that’s where the figures are cooked," Wambua added.

With 321 days to the August 2027 General Election, the coalition says it will push the amendments through Parliament and return to court if the proposed changes are rejected.