[Chairman of the IEBC Wafula Chebukati. He has said only the presidency ballot papers have not been printed.] (File)
The Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Wafula Chebukati says printing of ballot papers by the Dubai-based Al Ghurair company has started save for the presidency papers.
Speaking on Sunday after meeting IEBC staff drawn from different counties, Chebukati also said the commission was prepared to give the country free and fair elections this august.
“We have commenced the printing of ballot papers, the commission approved the papers for most of the candidates, there are a few cases in court and the percentage is being worked out, the ones which have no disputes, the printing is ongoing,” he said.
“As a commission, I am confident that these officers will leave this place and come August, they will deliver a free and fair election,” he added.
This comes even with questions still lingering on the awarding of the printing tender, which had threatened to derail the process.
The NASA coalition had insisted that the Dubai Company had links and ties with President Kenyatta and his family, which would give them undue advantage in the upcoming election.
With 42 days remaining to the elections, the country will find itself in a tricky situation if the paper printing process was in any way interfered with.