The IEBC officials have concluded that they will not cancel the ballot papers printing contract awarded to a Dubai company, Al Ghurair.
Wafula Chebukati said that the administration will not bow to NASA’s pressure and demands.
“The position of the Commission is very clear. We have given our reasons and invited NASA to give us theirs. If there are any grounds…any evidence that their allegations are true, then that can be considered,” Chebukati said.
NASA, through opposition chief Raila Odinga, aired their concerns about the tendering process demanding the contract to be awarded to another company citing collusion between Jubilee and Al Ghurair.
To protest this, NASA threatened to boycott the August 8th elections if the electoral agency does not pull out of the contract with the Dubai company Al Ghurair.
Chebukati said that the commission has already signed the contract and the work is in progress.” so, we really have no reason to change.” he added.
The IEBC chairman also said the ballot papers will be in the country a few days or at least a week before the election day.
“But remember we are printing 120 million ballot papers. Printing is not the big part…the big part is packaging them and ensuring they are delivered to polling stations, no mistakes are made and that security features are maintained,” he said.
“That is the issue we are looking at and that is why we need time. We don’t have time because [the schedule] needs to be followed up to the letter.”
The chairman said opposition boycotting the election would open doors to other candidates approved by the Commission to run.
“There are many Kenyans. There are other stakeholders – civil society, religious leaders, and the media. They can be agents…we shall invite those willing to participate to come with us to oversee to ensure the process is fair.”
The Commission invited stakeholders to accompany and monitor the production of the ballot papers.
Mr. Chebukati told those concerned that the IEBC is an independent institution mandated to manage elections.
“So we don’t really need somebody to work with us but we are reaching out to stakeholders so they can walk with us if there are any doubts,” he said.
The IEBC chairman has also registered confidence that they are on the right track for a free, fair and credible election across the country.
Chebukati said even if no stakeholder went to monitor the production of the ballots, he believed Kenyans have enough confidence in the commission. “Even if nobody was to come, I don’t think it casts doubts on the credibility of the institution because we are within the law in what we are doing. We are not supposed to involve all the 40 million Kenyans in the process. Our job is to deliver a free, fair and credible election.”
“We are within the law in what we are doing. We are not supposed to involve all the 40 million Kenyans in the process. Our job is to deliver a free, fair and credible election.” Said the IEBC chairman.