The High Court sitting in Nairobi has cancelled the ballot printing tender awarded to Dubai-based firm, Al Ghurair by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In its ruling to the case filed by the National Super Alliance (NASA) seeking to have the tender cancelled citing conflict of interest, the three-judge bench said that the electoral commission ignored several procurement processes including Public Participation.
IEBC was ordered to stop the printing and identify a new company to do the printing for the Presidential election.
NASA in its case argued that Al Ghurair had close links with top ruling Jubilee Party officials including President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying that the ruling party influenced the awarding of the deal to the Dubai firm.
NASA also argued that the IEBC did not adhere to the set public procurement procedures.
The Electoral Commission has warned that any ruling halting the ballot printing tender to Al Ghurair would jeopardize the election that is one month away.
The IEBC has indicated that it will be moving to the Appellate Court to appeal the Friday’s decision by the High Court.
Stupidity taken to the…
Stupidity taken to the highest heights Kenyan style.First , just how is IEBC supposed to consult candidates on tenders? Do the candidates run IEBC? Second , were there two “tenders” one for presidential ballots and “for other kinyangarikas”? Were the other positions’ candidates “consulted” so that the tender is o.k? You got to have very low IQ to find that the tender was “tainted” for one position but fine for other positions.What is the purpose of having a fresh tender to only print 19million ballots while all other 101million are printed by another company than to massage the ego of one maniac who must have his way at whatever cost to Kenyans? I hope the new printing will now be done in Kenya at various Luthuli printers to grow the “economy”.Kenyans should say enough to the political class who must earn the most, waste the most as poor Kenyans labor day and night with nothing to show for it.
Agree. If the tender for…
Agree. If the tender for presidential ballots was struck out for lack of consultation, then all the others ought to be struck out by the same reasoning. More interesting is that the new tender will also most likely be challenged in court since there will be still be an aggrieved party… This illustrates the dangers of an activist bench. The judges are as transparent as the civil society activists that litigate against IEBC in ‘public interest’ and then join politics as opposition candidates. There is simply no public interest in this decision… unless it is meant to forestall any claims of a rigged election and therefore avoid bloodshed. Time will tell.
This is a big disappointment…
This is a big disappointment.The judges should have put the larger national interest of the orderly and timely conduct of the election ahead of placating a self centered political maniac.What the maniac is trying to do is make the electioneering period ungovernable.The judges proceeded to carry the dirty water him.Who is watching out for the interest of peace,civil order, and stability for the the ordinary mwananchi?This is very disappointing.The only thing I can say about how I feel about this judgement is to say that these judges do not deserve to decide over the welfare of cows,goats or chickens let alone human beings. I hope there is some one with enough sense to do the right thing either at the appellate court or at the supreme court.The IEBC and alghurai should be supported and allowed to deliver a timely election.Not put unnecessary huddles on its path.
This is a big disappointment…
This is a big disappointment.The judges should have put the larger national interest of the orderly and timely conduct of the election ahead of placating a self centered political maniac.What the maniac is trying to do is make the electioneering period ungovernable.The judges proceeded to carry the dirty water for him.Who is watching out for the interest of peace,civil order, and stability for the the ordinary mwananchi?This is very disappointing.The only thing I can say about how I feel about this judgement is to say that these judges do not deserve to decide over the welfare of cows,goats or chickens let alone human beings. I hope there is some one with enough sense to do the right thing either at the appellate court or at the supreme court.The IEBC and alghurai should be supported and allowed to deliver a timely election.Not put unnecessary huddles IEBC’s its path.I hope that all peace loving Kenyans are going to be even more determined to vote for UHURUTO. Instead of this power hungry maniac who is always political and legal games with the lives of multitudes of Kenyans.
If in fact IEBC is…
If in fact IEBC is independent why is the judicial branch branch telling them how to do their job, how to procure ballot papers, and so forth, should we then have the IEBC tell the judges how to decide cases, there is very good reason why there independent bodies according to the constitution, except in kenya the opposition want their fingers in everything, if the ballots are not done on time and the elections are postponed am sure the opposition will cry that it is because the the ruling party has something to do with it. My take is that IEBC should be allowed to order the ballots from whoever they decide on as long as they follow the the proper procedures for the procurement, that is what they are mandated by the constitution, and if nasa wishes not to participate so be it. If there is cost for cancelling the contract, nasa and the judges should bear the cost not the whananchi.
I would think that these…
I would think that these kind of contracts are carried out with the blessings of lawyers from both sides. And that being the case, shouldn’t one of the parties seen this seemingly conflict of interest?I believe that if this printing company suffered some kind of loss due to the breach of contract by the other party, they have a legal leg to stand on.My question is, why wait till just about election time,and then start wrangling about another company getting the printing contract? Shouldn’t there be adeadline by which such matters are settled?
This is the same judiciary…
This is the same judiciary that cannot adjudicate corruption cases. NASA must have corrupted them.
We should fire them all,…
We should fire them all, they are doing more harm than good for the country, am questioning their competency to be fair in dealing with an kind of dispute.