Raila drops a bombshell about ballot papers printing tender

Opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential flag bearer, Raila Odinga, now says he has enough evidence to prove that Dubai-based firm Al Ghurair that was awarded the tender to print ballot papers by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has close links with Jubilee leaders.

NASA leaders have linked senior Jubilee officials to the awarding of a ballot papers printing tender to Al Ghurair and Raila says they have information indicating the firm has had contracts with Jubilee officials for at least three years.

Speaking in Meru Saturday, June 17, 2017, Raila said that the re-awarding of the tender to the firm was done intentionally to allow for printing of extra ballot papers to facilitate rigging of the elections in favour of the ruling Jubilee faction.

Last week, IEBC awarded the Ksh 2.5 billion ballot paper printing tender to the Dubai-based firm.

The electoral commission awarded the tender to the firm after the previous award was nullified by the High Court in February this year after the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) filed a suit against the electoral body and the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.

In February, Justice George Odunga nullified the tender and directed IEBC to begin a fresh tendering process which adheres to the applicable laws.

The award of the tender had previously been challenged by a losing bidder who lodged an appeal before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board citing irregularities.

Following the last week’s decision by IEBC to re-award the tender to Al Ghurair, Raila and the opposition brigade castigated the move reading mischief in the whole process and calling for its cancellation.

The NASA chief now claims that owners of the firm are close to Jubilee administration’s top officials and are likely to influence the outcome of the August 8, 2017 polls in President Kenyatta’s favor.

President Kenyatta, however, said that the Opposition outfit had sensed defeat and want to sabotage the August 8, 2017 polls.

Speaking on Thursday, June 15 during a campaign rally in Londiani, Kericho County, the Head of State said that NASA is not ready for elections and is trying to sabotage IEBC to derail the electoral process and possibly postpone the August polls.