Raila opposes ballot tender awarded to Dubai firm. . . What's your take on the matter? Share your views on #TheBigQuestion, @HusseinMohamedg pic.twitter.com/aiTZAqRiQV
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 13, 2017
They are security printers - who print anything secure - not only ballot papers - and obviously GoK has lots of stuff it need printed.
The era of ballot stuffing is so 90s I don't know what NASA are worried about.
Ballots papers will be opened in polling station, placed on transparent plastics and counted after that...
I am sure they print 300 floor skyscrapers too. Their competence is not the issue.
obviously GoK has lots of stuff it need printed.: I assume you are saying the meeting with Uhuru was all about securing GoK printing and nothing to do with the ballot paper contract.
You see Pundit, the Star for once practiced journalism and investigated. They produced evidence that Uhuru discussed the ballot Printing Tender in Dubai and in Nairobi. The information has been on Al Ghurair's website too for a time (I understand they have deleted quite a bit since the publication).
The evidence is further availed showing persons close to Uhuru made several trips to Al Ghurair to discuss the tender.
About GoK printingThere is a government printer with a very huge capacity. There is a long standing tender awarded to a firm under the Kibaki era for security printing etc for decades to come. There is no avenue for GoK to arrange for any other printing outside the existing arrangements. In any case it would have to be procured transparently.
Any way Pundit, you couldn't condemn the people you adore even if you caught them in bed with your wife. At this point the hatred of NASA / Raila (whichever is greater) dwarfs all else - including your usually topsyturvy principles.
If one of the parties in an election is involved in the tender for ballot papers, his relative and aide the local contact, are we supposed to just ignore that?
This is akin to Kencall - handling TNA & IEBC - as call center business. Do you want IEBC to exclude all suppliers who work with either side? And how would they check that. As far as IEBC goes - Abu Graib applied for the tender to print & supply ballot papers - met all requirements - and were competitively awarded the contract. If we go that route - IEBC will never get anything done - with rumours & propaganda.
I don't see Jubilee crying all day that Chebukati was recently a life ODM member who ran ODM ticket or that they're luhyas who support ODM or whatever one can conjure.
IEBC is independent - time for NASA to trust them to deliver fair, credible and free election - and if they disagree - our supreme court (also independent) - will overturn the verdict.
Now we simply don't have time to go to indulge and entertain ODM/NASA tenous linking of Uhuru with Abu Graib.If one of the parties in an election is involved in the tender for ballot papers, his relative and aide the local contact, are we supposed to just ignore that?
I take it your answer is yes, we should just ignore it. That you would be okay if Raila is involved in sourcing ballots with Oburu acting as local agent.
IEBC can do better than that. Kenyatta's involvement in the tender should automatically disqualify the company. How is that even debatable?
If one of the parties in an election is involved in the tender for ballot papers, his relative and aide the local contact, are we supposed to just ignore that?
Printing should be sourced to a company either in UK or USA. These are the only 2 countries that have shown that they can prosecute people involved in corrupt deals. These are the only 2 countries that I know that any aggrieved party can sue the ballot printing company in case of fraud and have a fair day in court.
WafulA W. Chebukati - Chairperson - sworn in on 19th Jan, 2017 - LuhyaI believe decisions are by majority. Since Kalenjins vote as directed by Kikuyus I see them with a clear majority.
Consolata Nkatha Bucha Maina - Vice-Chairperson - sworn in on 19th Jan, 2017 - Kikuyu
Dr. Roselyn K. Akombe - sworn in on 19th Jan, 2017 - Kalenjin
Prof. Abdi Yakub Guliye - sworn in on 19th Jan, 2017 - Somali
Margaret Wanjala Mwachanya - sworn in on 19th Jan, 2017 - Luhya married to Taita
Boya Molu - sworn in on 19th Jan, 2017 - Borana
Paul Kibiwott Kurgat - sworn in on 19th Jan, 2017 - Kalenjin
Ezra Chiloba - 2015 - Commission Secretary, CEO - Sabaot (Kalenjin)
I believe in the independence and competence of IEBC to conduct our election.Why would you not?
I see you don't trust them despite the fact that Chiloba and Chebukati are luhya and ODM carrying members.Which surprises that you are not complaining about that!
IEBC and our courts been through the motions on this for 1 yr now- and now we are less than 60 days to election - and unless you're suggesting we postpone elections so we can investigate the depth of the printer & uhuru relationship - then you're wasting time here.
I believe in the independence and competence of IEBC to conduct our election. I see you don't trust them despite the fact that Chiloba and Chebukati are luhya and ODM carrying members. That is all what it point down...you either trust IEBC will conduct free or fair election or you don't.
I think NASA has sense defeat - which explain why for 5 days and counting - they've not done any rally.
Right now - it should be all systems go to election day - you can raise this collusion as petition to supreme court on 9-23th August when the opportunity comes.
NASA leaders have linked President Uhuru Kenyatta's brother Muhoho Kenyatta to the awarding of a ballot papers printing tender to Al Ghurair.
The Dubai-based company is to print about 120 million ballot papers, election results forms and poll registers for the August 8 general elections.
NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga said on Tuesday that they have information indicating the firm has had contracts with senior Jubilee officials for at least three years.
More on this: Jubilee leaders pushed for Al Ghurair printing tender, Raila claims in polls warning
Read: Dubai ballot printing firm asked Uhuru for contract
In a press briefing in Nairobi, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi said Muhoho is the "local contact" for Al Ghurair and possibly a shareholder in the firm.
"We have established that the CEO of this firm is an intimate friend of the Kenyatta family and a frequent guest at the home of Muhoho," he said on Wednesday.
He added: "It has become abundantly clear that the awarding of the tender was influenced by Uhuru. The President cannot be the procurement manager in chief for IEBC."
Mudavadi also called for the sacking of IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and Director of Election Operations Immaculate Kasait for their alleged involvement in the matter.
"They were the contacts for State House. These two should immediately step aside and investigations should commence into their conduct and tenure at the IEBC," he claimed.
The politician said Kasait is clouded in numerous integrity issues.
"She reports on a weekly basis to State House where she gives status updates to Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua," he said.
Mudavadi said Kasait is also a member of a Jubilee-leaning organisation known as the Mt Kenya Foundation which operates from Nairobi's Parklands area.
"The activities of this foundation are shrouded in mystery," he said.
The Amani party leader added that the office is accessed only by Uhuru, DP William Ruto, JP executive director Winnie Guchu, Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery, businessman Chris Kirubi, former CS Davis Chirchir and former Chief of General Staff Joseph Karangi.
"Kasait provides frequent updates on the state of affairs at IEBC to this group."
'UHURU SHOULD COME CLEAN'
Mudavadi asked Uhuru to come clean on his and his family’s links with the firm and state his interests in the contract the firm was awarded.
"The interest, in our view, is clear. The President and his Jubilee team are looking for a firm that can supply extra ballot secretly as was the case in 2013," he said.
"The issue of delay is only an excuse to create a crisis to justify the giving of this tender to Al Ghurair."
Earlier, IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati said the rhetoric on the procurement of ballot material is dangerous, following criticism by Raila.
He said the narrative was "dangerously derailing" them from fulfilling their constitutional obligation on the elections.
"IEBC undertook due diligence which confirmed the firm is qualified to undertake the printing of ballot papers," he said.
Chebukati further said the commission engaged the political stakeholders before making the decision.
More on this: Raila dangerously derailing IEBC with Al Ghurair tender claims - Chebukati
A number of government tenders have caused political tension, which is threatening to poison the atmosphere ahead of the August 8 polls.
In October last year, Uhuru's sister Nyokabi Muthama was linked to the Sh5 billion Health ministry scandal.
Chiloba simiyu is not kalenjin. And commission doesn't do tendering..it the secretariat that do that.Ezra Simiyu Chiloba is a Sabaot period
Kenya Opposition Links President's Family to Ballot Contract
by Felix Njini
June 14, 2017, 4:39 PM GMT+2 June 14, 2017, 5:39 PM GMT+2
President’s brother may be linked to Dubai-based company
Kenyatta accused of colluding with electoral body on tender
Kenya’s main opposition party linked President Uhuru Kenyatta’s family to a Dubai-based company awarded a tender to print ballot papers for this year’s elections, as it demanded the contract be canceled.
Kenyatta’s brother, Muhoho, “is the local contact for Al Ghurair and possibly a shareholder” in Al Ghurair Printing & Publishing Ltd., Musalia Mudavadi, a leader of the opposition National Super Alliance, told reporters on Wednesday in the capital, Nairobi. He also accused the president of influencing the award of the tender “in collusion with some technical staff” at Kenya’s electoral body.
Muhoho Kenyatta wasn’t available when Bloomberg contacted his office seeking comment and he didn’t immediately respond to a request to call back. Abdul Kayum, a customer services manager at Al Ghurair, didn’t answer his phone when called by Bloomberg. Calls to the president’s spokesman, Manoah Esipisu, didn’t connect when Bloomberg sought comment.
Opposition presidential candidate Raila Odinga warned this week that the award of the contract to Al Ghurair risks compromising the election that’s scheduled for Aug. 8. Kenya has faced questions about the credibility of its past two votes, with a dispute over the outcome of a presidential election in December 2007 triggering two months of ethnic violence that left at least 1,100 people dead.
Get the latest on global politics in your inbox, every day.
Get our newsletter daily.
Enter your email
Sign Up
The Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission last week re-awarded the 2.5 billion-shilling ($24 million) tender to Al Ghurair even after Kenya’s High Court canceled a previous contract with the company in February and a procurement-review board last month criticized the tendering process. The commission said earlier on Wednesday it will proceed with the contract awarded to Al Ghurair because there’s insufficient time to find an alternative company to print the ballots, an assertion that Mudavadi disputed.
“The country has in the past always conducted nominations three weeks to voting day and this has always been sufficient time for printing of ballot papers to be completed,” Mudavadi said.
Opposition leaders will meet with IEBC officials on Thursday to discuss their objections and the alliance will decide on the way forward after that, he said. NASA, as the main opposition coalition is known, will hold a briefing at 10 a.m. on Thursday about the issue, it said in an emailed statement.
This is akin to Kencall - handling TNA & IEBC - as call center business. Do you want IEBC to exclude all suppliers who work with either side? And how would they check that. As far as IEBC goes - Abu Graib applied for the tender to print & supply ballot papers - met all requirements - and were competitively awarded the contract. If we go that route - IEBC will never get anything done - with rumours & propaganda.
I don't see Jubilee crying all day that Chebukati was recently a life ODM member who ran ODM ticket or that they're luhyas who support ODM or whatever one can conjure.
IEBC is independent - time for NASA to trust them to deliver fair, credible and free election - and if they disagree - our supreme court (also independent) - will overturn the verdict.
Now we simply don't have time to indulge and entertain ODM/NASA tenuous linking of Uhuru with Abu Graib. Less than 2 months to election date - the printing press should already be running and the logistics of getting those papers to every polling station in high gear.If one of the parties in an election is involved in the tender for ballot papers, his relative and aide the local contact, are we supposed to just ignore that?
This whole IEBC thing stinks to high heaven seems like a deliberate move by Jubilee to sabotage general election...Their Spin Doctors advise them to accuse NASA of not wanting elections or creating the conditions to reject "defeat". All these are pre-rigging preparations.
Pundit
You are either a washed up propagandist or are really ignorant of what happened in 2013.
Here you are trying to belatedly sanitize TNA - IEBC relationship with Kencall without sufficient knowledge of it.
IEBC shared ONE server with TNA. It is not a question of two people meeting in a bar or a hotel. It is about the two sharing one lodging, one bed and one set of bed sheets. Now you are free to argue that they never had sex or as Bill Clinton said, I smoked marijuana but I never inhaled! Or when Monica gave him a BJ, he could argue to his Baptist Pastor that that is not sex!
You're full of jokes.
It is an old old law that has been repeated so many times people have become immune to it. But all things have their time to matter. It is like this Pundit: Canvassing is an automatic disqualification. That should take care of the qualification part.
This is an election. We cannot take anything for granted. One of the contestants is procuring materials to be used in determining the winner. Now NASA has every right to cry foul. Why is Uhuru and his brother so keen on having Al Ghurair land the contract? Chiloba awarded it, the courts nullified. Then Chibukati was about to award it, the courts stopped him and when he got a chance to do single sourcing, he went for it! That is despite KNOWING that it would cause a serious row!
IEBC will never get anything done - with rumours & propaganda.: Majority of Kenyans do not want any party to be given advantages. That includes even the appearance of advantage. You should join them instead of defending your party's advantages. After all you keep saying you will win with 13.5 million votes. If you are so sure of victory, why taint it with having Uhuru's brother print ballot papers? NASA would be justified in claiming he printed a few extra secretly for Karangi to stuff in boxes
IEBC is independent - time for NASA to trust them to deliver fair, credible and free election:How independent is it when the President summons the CEO to state house to meet a potential supplier. The CEO then goes ahead and awards the contract to the President's brother's firm and does so illegally! No Pundit, at this point the IEBC is anything but independent of Jubilee
our supreme court (also independent) - will overturn the verdict:Lest you say we never said before: NASA will not go to court over the election. The IEBC must conduct a credible election and it it fails do not expect anybody at the supreme court. It has been repeated several times but the media aint telling some of you. Therefore the belief that you will rig elections and then NASA goes to court and Iringo and Kimemia raid national Bank and cart out billions in the name of "police Commissioner" add some more and pay huge bribes to judges and threaten those who don't take the bribes. It won't happen bro.
Now we simply don't have time to indulge and entertain ODM/NASA tenuous linking of Uhuru with Abu Graib. Uhuru and his brother are shareholders in Al Ghurair. There is nothing tenuous about it. Uhuru held meetings with Al Ghurair. The media has published it and there has been no denial from Uhuru because the evidence is overwhelming.
Less than 2 months to election date - the printing press should already be running and the logistics of getting those papers to every polling station in high gear. You are in a hurry to return to your party but we will not join you in your rush. The country has a record of completing nominations three weeks to elections and got all the printing done on time. Using non existent time constraints to rig elections is an old Isaac Hassan tactic. It worked once , won't work again.This is akin to Kencall - handling TNA & IEBC - as call center business. Do you want IEBC to exclude all suppliers who work with either side? And how would they check that. As far as IEBC goes - Abu Graib applied for the tender to print & supply ballot papers - met all requirements - and were competitively awarded the contract. If we go that route - IEBC will never get anything done - with rumours & propaganda.
I don't see Jubilee crying all day that Chebukati was recently a life ODM member who ran ODM ticket or that they're luhyas who support ODM or whatever one can conjure.
IEBC is independent - time for NASA to trust them to deliver fair, credible and free election - and if they disagree - our supreme court (also independent) - will overturn the verdict.
Now we simply don't have time to indulge and entertain ODM/NASA tenuous linking of Uhuru with Abu Graib. Less than 2 months to election date - the printing press should already be running and the logistics of getting those papers to every polling station in high gear.If one of the parties in an election is involved in the tender for ballot papers, his relative and aide the local contact, are we supposed to just ignore that?
All I am hearing is that without any evidence you don't trust IEBC will do it's constitutional job and you're going to second guess them all the way to the election day.
Unfortunately for you IEBC have mandate to conduct the election they way they deem fit and according to the law.
Your recourse as I see is to go back to court and block the tender again. If that fails - is to participate or boycott election.
If like MOAS is predicting - Raila loses - you've the option of going to court or using extra-judicial measures to force NARA or repeat election maybe supervised by the UN (or Raila's wife Ida?).
As far as Jubilee goes...they are gonna let IEBC conduct election & judiciary arbitrate and of course trounce NASA...get fresh mandate..and if NASA tries games..the security forces will do their job.I don't think Jubilee are in the mood to entertain NASA just after they put Chiloba-Chebukaiti recently to accommodate NASA animus against Hassan team.
Pundit
Let me share with you a short story:
In 2007 I ran in to an old friend when I worked in a volatile country. He was working there as an intelligence officer and was actually the "dean of intelligence officers" in that country (even those hostile to his country - these things happen).
He told me that Kibaki was planning a coup. I thought it was a joke. Over the next several months, he would tell me about the secret (not so secret) meetings in State House planning how to short change Raila.
It dawned on Kibaki that he could not beat Raila and he decided to do everything in his power to steal power. I shared all this information with those close to Raila but you can guess they thought I was telling the thing that will not happen. I posted at RCB nobody took it seriously - not even you. You said that the era of rigging elections is long past and Kibaki cannot do that. I am sure you changed your mind afterward.
I learned a number of lessons about rigging by the incumbent:
1. Waiting until he has done it to complain whether in court or on the streets is a waste of time
2. Protests and court actions are calculated within his plans and obviously deemed to be minor setbacks not capable of derailing the rigging plan.
3. The real war must be fought before the elections or you are dead in the water
4. Incumbents take no prisoners and take none
Go slow on those Ruto matusi. Advise Ruto it is the small things a big man says that ruin him. The reason we have advised NASA brigade to not attack him (except Joho who has his own private vendetta) is because insulting Ruto may be taken very personally by his many supporters. When he learns that his insults directed at Raila (and now his wife) are taken very personally by Raila's supporters, he will know why he is hated in Nyanza and Western. So hated if he appeared without his security he would be lynched.All I am hearing is that without any evidence you don't trust IEBC will do it's constitutional job and you're going to second guess them all the way to the election day.
Unfortunately for you IEBC have mandate to conduct the election they way they deem fit and according to the law.
Your recourse as I see is to go back to court and block the tender again. If that fails - is to participate or boycott election.
If like MOAS is predicting - Raila loses - you've the option of going to court or using extra-judicial measures to force NARA or repeat election maybe supervised by the UN (or Raila's wife Ida?).
As far as Jubilee goes...they are gonna let IEBC conduct election & judiciary arbitrate and of course trounce NASA...get fresh mandate..and if NASA tries games..the security forces will do their job.I don't think Jubilee are in the mood to entertain NASA just after they put Chiloba-Chebukaiti recently to accommodate NASA animus against Hassan team.
Rigging is not hard to hide. Kibaki having been beaten in 2005 constitutional referendum certainly set out to rig.Opinion polls showed Raila winning. His rigging was obvious..from unilaterally appointing ECK commissioners to brazen rigging on live TV..and reactions of kenyans was clear.More brazen that the Tiaty Results?
Here I don't see any rigging.Could you even if you tried? You are not interested in credible elections as long as Jubilee wins so you start planning for 2022 with Ruto
I see IEBC manned by new team appointed without controversy who are doing their job.Please! You obviously didn't pay heed when the panel of mostly men of God descended into tribal conclaves.
I see confident Uhuru who just won 2013 and has kept the same coalition and added more winning again.You never tire of repeating this LIE. It gets tiresome
NASA knows they've no clear path to victory. Not even one opinion poll the last 4 yrs has shown Raila beating Uhuru - and please don't post fake news from fake websites. Raila knows age has caught up with him. He is desperate for an opening but he aint getting any.Who owns the poll companies that are saying all the crap?
All this is clearly weak-kneed attempt to discredit IEBC, plunge the country into crisis and hope for NUSU mkate.A jubilee talking point. NASA will get rid of Jubilee in its entirety. There is no Nusu Mkate which incidentally Ruto and Uhuru were members of
It aint happening.Oh yes, bro! I can swear for you that! It will never happen. Uhuru is going home
NASA have to demonstrate to Kenyans & the world that election have been rigged. So far we are hearing allegations without EVIDENCE.You can wait for NASA to beg, it won't happen.
Bring in solid evidence...not the usual rumours.There is solid evidence. However it is not your job to defend the IEBC. Unless you are the IEBC
Ruto has been hated so many times by so many people ..because he is damn effective campaigner... I know NASA people really hate him now because he is killing Raila!Ruto is a spent force. He flew too close to the sun.-
Too late. Election date is set on 8.8Printing should be sourced to a company either in UK or USA. These are the only 2 countries that have shown that they can prosecute people involved in corrupt deals. These are the only 2 countries that I know that any aggrieved party can sue the ballot printing company in case of fraud and have a fair day in court.
Omollo - Ngilu & Balala were flower girls that brought next to zero votes. You like arguing for it's sake when not spreading baseless propaganda and rumours. Show us the evidence and we will support you.
This is an issue NASA will not waste time seeking "support". It is a matter anybody hearing about it would clearly understand. From a Machiavellian point of view I would like JubIEBC to refuse to address it and continue with hubris because they will eventually lose.
Tired song. Hassan must go. Kivuitu must go. Chesoni must go. now Chebukati must go. Change the tune.This is an issue NASA will not waste time seeking "support". It is a matter anybody hearing about it would clearly understand. From a Machiavellian point of view I would like JubIEBC to refuse to address it and continue with hubris because they will eventually lose.