A local firm could end up printing Presidential ballot papers for August 8 elections.
This is after IEBC held a stakeholders meeting on Monday to resolve a stalemate that has pitted the commission against the opposition in regard to the printing of Presidential election papers.
And a section of the Presidential hopefuls led by Thirdway Alliance candidate Dr. Ekuru Aukot proposed to have a local firm awarded the tender.
Aukot in a written memorandum proposed that IEBC single sources the tender to a local firm but enlist services from an international logistics company to monitor the dispatch of the ballot papers to respective polling stations.
Raila Odinga (NASA) who was represented by Siaya Senator James Orengo and Alliance for Real Change Mohammed Abduba Dida also supported Aukot’s proposal to have the tender awarded to a local firm.
“This is a shameful meeting. . . Give Jubilee and Nasa Sh10 million each, we have no problem. If they are saying they cannot, give it to the Government Printer or take it to these people on Kirinyaga Road. It is not a big deal,” said Duda as Daily Nation quotes.
Orengo added Kenyan printers have the capacity to print the Presidential ballot papers.
“Our money is printed here in Kenya. And we have had no issue with it being a legal tender. And three weeks is adequate time (for ballots), and it should not be an excuse at all that we have no time.”
But Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta represented at the meeting by Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju, Leader of Majority Aden Duale and Senate Majority leader Kindike Kithure said they are okay with anyone who will be given the tender.
“We have no problem with whoever gets the tender, we just want them ready by August 8 when elections are held,” said Kindiki.
Other Independent candidates Cyrus Jirongo, Joe Nyagah, Prof Michael Wainaina and Japhet Kaluyu took a similar stand.
IEBC has been engaged by NASA in a court battle with the latter challenging the awarding of a tender to a Dubai-based printing firm, Al Ghurair.
On Friday, a three-Judge bench at the Milimani Constitutional Court Division ruled that Al Ghurair should halt printing of Presidential ballot papers until a case lodged before the court is heard and determined.
The Presidential ballot papers had been scheduled to start being printed from July 18.