Blow to IEBC as court cancels presidential ballot papers printing tender

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has suffered a major blow after the High Court sitting in Nairobi cancelled the presidential election ballot papers printing tender awarded to Dubai-based firm, Al Ghurair Printing Company.

In its ruling in the case filed by the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) seeking the cancellation of the tender citing conflict of interest, the High Court said that several procurement processes including Public Participation were ignored by the electoral body.

The court ordered IEBC ordered to identify a new supplier to print the ballot papers for the presidential vote.

NASA had argued in its filing that the firm, Al Ghurair, had close links with top ruling Jubilee Party officials and that the IEBC did not follow the set public procurement procedures.

The three-judge bench led by Justice Joel Ngugi said that there was no public participation as enshrined in the Constitution in awarding the Ksh 2.5 billion tender to Al-Gurair printing firm.

However, the court dismissed allegations by NASA that President Uhuru Kenyatta met Al Ghurair officials saying NASA failed to provide evidence to back the claims.

The court further ruled that it has no powers to change the August 8 election date.