The Public Procurement Administrative Review Board on Wednesday started hearing a tendering row, where the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) awarded a Sh2.5 billion tender to a Dubai Bank, to print ballot papers for the 2017 general elections.
Through its Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba, IEBC notified Al Ghurair Printing firm on October 18, 2016, that it had qualified to supply to the Commission, election declaration forms, 130 million ballot papers and poll registers.
However the decision has been challenged by South Africa's Polls Media, which lost the tender, saying the tendering process was irregularly awarded.
The South African firm wants the tender revoked and re-advertised.
Parties enjoined in the case appeared before the Board, for a hearing, where IEBC has been faulted for awarding the tender yet it does not have a total number of voters.
Critics say the polls body should have waited until it conducts voter registration exercise in 2017, to have a clear total number of voters, before awarding the tender.
Cord and Jubilee were represented before the hearing, seeking to be enjoined in the case.
Cord is represented by Senior Council James Orengo (Siaya senator), while Jubilee is represented by lawyer Hillary Sigei.
They argued that the case involves political parties, since the ballot papers are used in elections, which involves the parties.
However, IEBC lawyer David Lebullelah opposed the request, saying the two political parties will only drag the matter.
According to IEBC, Cord and Jubilee have selfish interests in the case.
He said some political parties have been criticising the Commission, asking it to halt its responsibilities until it gets new Commissioners.
The hearing of the row continues.