By Wambugu Ngare
1. In October of 2016, Majid Saif Al Ghurair, son of Abdallah Al Ghurair, visits the country as the head of delegation of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.
2. Majid’s local pointmen are Muhoho Kenyatta, with whom he enjoys a close relationship, and a man only identified as Kairu, a broker who has extensive contacts with top-level government officials.
3. A meeting is arranged between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Majid. Also present is Mr. Ezra Chiloba, CEO of IEBC.
4. Weeks later, contract for the printing of ballot papers is awarded to Al Ghurair Printers.
5. Justice George Odunga nullifies the contract process on the grounds of procedural irregularities
6. IEBC uses a back-channel and opts for a restricted tendering process where companies selected by State-House are invited to bid.
7. The Public Procurement Administration and Review Board nullifies the process on the ground of faulty tender papers.
8. IEBC goes ahead and awards the tender directly to Al Ghurair.
Tell me, I pray, how can we trust a body that State House has on a leash to deliver a free, fair and credible election?
Tendepreneur Boniface Kairu is the shadowy figure named in new revelations as the local franchise holder of Dubai-based printing firm Al Ghuriar which was irregularly awarded the Ksh 2.6 billion ballot printing tender.
It has also been revealed that IEBC Chief Executive Ezra Chiloba was summoned to State House to ensure the ballot printing tender for the August poll was awarded to Dubai-based Al Ghuriar Printing company.
Al Ghuriar scandalised tender isn’t the first time the Dubai company is exposed as planning a fraud in an electoral contest.
In Zambia, the firm was last year accused of printing excess ballot papers which the regime of Edgar Lungu stuffed in military barracks and transported to his strongholds where opposition agents and observers were kicked away.
Kairu, unlike former IEBC ‘chickengate’ broker Trevvy Oyombra is not a small time wheeler dealer. He is perched right at the centre of Jubilee power, being also one of the top financiers of President Uhuru re-election.
In the recent fundraising dinner to bankroll Uhuru re-election, inside sources told Kenya Today that Kairu is among gold-plated guests who contributed more than Ksh 10 million shillings.
Several weeks before IEBC awarded the tender, he already bragged that his chosen firm – Al Ghuriar – will clinch the tender.
Also known to be a longtime boyfriend of one of the IEBC Secretariat bosses Immaculate Njenge-Kassait who is betrothed to embattled Baringo Speaker William ‘warlord’ Kamket who was recently investigated over banditry in the region, Kairu’s word is law in the current IEBC.
Together with IEBC Vice Chair Consolata Buccha Maina, Commissioner Boya Molu (Duale hireling), Milcah Chebosis (whose job Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga personally lobbied), and IEBC consultant Peninah Mureithi, Kairu has ensured IEBC is hollowed out on all integrity provisions.
As the CEO of Radisson Blu Hotel, Kairu is said to be offering free lunch services to Jubilee Headquarters and select IEBC commissioners, who patronise his hotel almost on a daily basis.
Radisson Blu was in 2015 at the centre of a billion shilling scam as it was revealed that its majority owner, former Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau had used proceeds of inflated cost of SGR to construct it to completion in two short years.
Kamau is said to be an uncle to Kairu.
The hotel is among prime assets EACC investigations had stumbled upon before quick changes were introduced at the commission, including summarily firing the commissioners, which scuttled any chance of its repossession.
ODM Leader Raila Odinga yesterday revealed Al Ghuriar has local franchise holder “who hold known partisan political positions in the contest ahead”.
its never too late to do the right thing. we cannt have election for the sake of election even when they are not free and fair.
The stakes are too high, However, uhuru seem hell bent on driving the country over the cliff. Millions of Kenyans will not
take electroral theft lying down...
IF Raila and NASA capitulates and allow Kenyatta family to print the ballot we might as well have no election and allow Uhuru to crown himself king.
btwn how come Jubilee never have any issue with IEBC? must be conjoined twins.
IEBC are the referee....work on getting votes...NASA have not campaigned for a week now..and you expect IEBC to deliver victory for you? We've bend over too much for NASA; First Hassan team got millions of money to leave office - and we got new team - and now we are hearing new team is also tainted :). I guess we will ask Raila's wife to become IEBC chair?IF Raila and NASA capitulates and allow Kenyatta family to print the ballot we might as well have no election and allow Uhuru to crown himself king.
btwn how come Jubilee never have any issue with IEBC? must be conjoined twins.
It is necessary for IEBC not to dig deeper into this hole. Uhuru also needs to reign on himself and his attack dogs to stop defending IEBC. Chebukati and Chiloba seem level headed guys unlike the volatile Hassan and they should be allowed to assert IEBC's place in ensuring credible elections.
The fact that the media is not covering NASA's campaigns on orders of Jubilee does not mean we aren't reaching our people.
IEBC should be allowed to discharge it's constitutional mandate as independent body. I think Jubilee have done that.It is necessary for IEBC not to dig deeper into this hole. Uhuru also needs to reign on himself and his attack dogs to stop defending IEBC. Chebukati and Chiloba seem level headed guys unlike the volatile Hassan and they should be allowed to assert IEBC's place in ensuring credible elections.
Why not try fake news if mainstream media is all pro-jubilee. NASA has wasted a full week. They resume I hear next week...and time is ticking..now about 50 days to go.The fact that the media is not covering NASA's campaigns on orders of Jubilee does not mean we aren't reaching our people.
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) June 10, 2017
Urged them to vote peacefully and responsibly in the upcoming general elections. NASA will stand firm to defend the rights of all Kenyans. pic.twitter.com/99JbsLweLW
— Hassan Ali Joho, EGH. (@HassanAliJoho) June 13, 2017
Makueni was last NASA rally..since then they've gone AWOL.The team broke in to smaller groups with Joho going back home to mobilize, Mudavadi fixing the Vihiga and Kakamega outstanding issues, Wetangula going to plan for Bungoma and to monitor Uhuru's foray in the area while Raila and Kalonzo attended to housekeeping issues.
The team broke in to smaller groups with Joho going back home to mobilize, Mudavadi fixing the Vihiga and Kakamega outstanding issues, Wetangula going to plan for Bungoma and to monitor Uhuru's foray in the area while Raila and Kalonzo attended to housekeeping issues.
NASA is also setting up its own team separate from that of supporting parties. Campaigns are not just rallies with photoshopped crowds that Itumbi is posting. Sometimes the same photos for different rallies.
I see. Let me add to inactivity list. Isaac Ruto is dealing with housekeeping issues as he swim against huge current. In the meantime Jubilee machinery is rolling...today in Kericho, tomorrow Bomet and then Kakamega..not just mega rallies...but touring entire county which culminate in major rally. Pretty impressive so far. Jubilee mean machine is no march for NASA house-keeping party.
I will share with you what is really happening in those Jubilee rallies. I assume you know that Uhuru was jeered when he mentioned Ababu? Like I told you people are mesmerized to see military choppers (all four of them) and a huge presidential car pool and other trappings of power. They are then made aware that these things are there because they have to starve to Uhuru and Ruto can ride in state choppers.
Uhuru is wasting time in areas he could never possibly get a vote. Like Napoleon told his generals "Never interrupt an enemy when he is making a deadly mistake"
I'd rather they try their luck in Busia than sit in Nairobi and hope IEBC will somehow makes the winners.I will share with you what is really happening in those Jubilee rallies. I assume you know that Uhuru was jeered when he mentioned Ababu? Like I told you people are mesmerized to see military choppers (all four of them) and a huge presidential car pool and other trappings of power. They are then made aware that these things are there because they have to starve to Uhuru and Ruto can ride in state choppers.
Uhuru is wasting time in areas he could never possibly get a vote. Like Napoleon told his generals "Never interrupt an enemy when he is making a deadly mistake"