Nairobi deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke. [Photo/How Kenya]
Nairobi deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke has called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to reconsider its stand on the award of the ballot papers tender to a Dubai-based firm, Al Ghurair.
Mueke said if the procurement process which must be followed as stipulated in the law is in doubt; then the system must be re-evaluated to avert a crisis.
He noted that failure by the commission to address issues raised over the tendering process will be like building a recipe for chaos.
He said it beats logic for the IEBC to go ahead with the ballot printing process yet the leader of opposition Raila Odinga and four other presidential candidates have said there are issues which need to be looked into.
He said instead of hurling insults, there should be a way of finding a suitable solution for all parties involved so that everyone is comfortable with the way the polls will go.
He noted that Kenyans' future is at stake in the August 8 election.
“This election is a very important event to every single Kenyan because it will determine how they will be governed,” said Mueke during an interview with KBC television on Sunday evening.
He dismissed IEBC’s assertions that it constrained by the time limits, citing previous polls where ballot papers were printed just 14 days to an election.
His remarks come as both the opposition and Jubilee Party trade accusations and counter –accusations over the ballot tendering process.
The electoral body, however, insists it will go ahead with the process, citing time constraints and that it acted within the law.