First batch of Presidential ballot papers in the country

The first consignment of presidential ballot papers is finally in the country.

The 192 pallets of the Presidential ballot papers arrived on Monday evening (July 31) at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) via Etihad Airlines.

Speaking at JKIA, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO, Ezra Chiloba, said that IEBC printed more than the approved 1% for packaging purposes totaling to 20,818,000, meaning 1.2 million extra ballot papers have been printed by the Dubai-based firm Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC, a figure that has overwhelmingly surpassed  the agreed 1% of 19,611,423 registered voters.

The law provides for a voter who spoils a ballot paper to be given new ones up to two, translating to three ballot papers per head in case of mistakes.

Chiloba’s argued that every booklet must contain 50 ballot papers and he committed that the commission will account for each. For instance, Pumwani Primary School polling station has 319 registered voters, if you add the 1% provision in law, you will have 322 ballot papers.

However, as the booklets are printed in sets of 50s, if you round off 322 to the nearest 50 you will have 350 ballot papers. Unlike 2013, the ballot papers and result forms have been  specifically customised per polling station, making them impassable in other polling stations.

Chiloba reiterated that they are ready to give Kenyans a free, fair and credible election.