Raila To Address ‘Illegal’ Ballot Papers Tender

Raila Odinga is today expected to declare his position on the recently awarded ballot papers tender.

The opposition led by Raila Odinga, moved to the High Court in February asking for a nullification of the same tender sighting illegalities in its awarding.

Chief executive Ezra Chiloba yesterday told MPs an attempt to block the Sh2.5 billion contract given to Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company of Dubai will make it impossible to hold the general election.

Its cancellation caused a deleay in procuring the ballots whose deadline was on May 28. The new contract was however awarded on Friday.

Al Ghurair is to print about 120 million ballot papers, election results forms and poll registers.

The NASA Presidential Campaign Secretariat yesterday told the Star that Raila would today hold a presser addressing the new tender.

“Raila is closely following up the matter and will make an announcement over it tomorrow [today],” NASA presidential campaign communication head Kathleen Openda said.

Chiloba told the National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee that Al Ghurair was picked because it has modern machines and a capacity of 50 per cent is set aside for production of ballot papers.

He said the company also has a suitable emergency production, packaging and delivery plan in addition to fully deployed experienced and qualified staff.

“There is always that risk that major tenders may attract a court challenge. If someone went to the courts today and the tender is put aside, the question we should be asking ourselves whether we would have the August elections,” Chiloba said.