FIRST BATCH OF BALLOT PAPERS ARRIVE IN NAIROBI FROM DUBAI

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that the first batch of ballot papers for Governor, Woman Representative and Senate elections will arrive in Nairobi from Dubai at 7pm on Tuesday.

This comes as the printing of the presidential ballots that was set to commence on July 18th remains in the dark after the High Court directed the Commission to tender afresh the presidential ballots citing lack of public participation.

On Thursday, the Appellate Court is expected to make a ruling on an appeal filed by Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), challenging the decision by the High Court directing the nullification of the printing tender for presidential ballot papers.

Following the July 7th ruling, the Commission invited the public to submit memoranda on procurement of the ballots even as it convened a meeting with presidential candidates and their agents to collect views on fresh tendering.

In its ruling, a three bench judge comprising Justices Joel Ngugi, Joseph Mativo and George Odunga ruled in favor of the Opposition after they convinced the Court that the Electoral Commission did not involve the public in identifying Al Ghurair as a suitable firm to print ballot papers for the August 8 polls. The Court however, gave a go ahead for the printing of the ballots for remaining five elections, apart from the presidential ones.

“This court issues an order of mandamus compelling IEBC to commence de novo the procurement process for the award of the tender for printing of election materials for the presidential election scheduled for 8 August 2017 in accordance with the constitution, provisions of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act and the relevant election laws so that to ensure free, fair and transparent polls are conducted on August 8,” Presiding Judge Ngugi directed.