Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati (left) and CEO Ezra Chiloba at the agency's head offices in Anniversary Towers in Nairobi on April 5, 2017 during a media briefing. The commission has tough choices to make after it lost a case challenging the printing of presidential ballot papers filed by Nasa. [Photo: nation.co.ke]Now that the High Court on Friday ordered the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to halt the printing of presidential ballot papers and issue a fresh tender 30 days to the election, what options does the electoral body have?Well, even though the Wafula Chebukati-led Commission still insists that the election will still go on as scheduled on August 8, the commission has tough and limited choices on its table and where a small miscalculation could lead to a 'no election' pronouncement on the set date from the commission itself.This is because the commission has to race against time to ensure that it gives a tender for the printing of the presidential ballot papers within 30 days.First, the law provides that the commission can use an open tender. However, this is likely to take more time than IEBC has to the election date. Alternatively, the commission can opt to use a restricted tender, in which case it will invite a few companies to bid. The commission can also resort to single-sourcing.And finally, IEBC, has a fourth option of appealing the High Court decision. Chebukati has already instructed the commission lawyers to appeal the decision which is likely to be done on Monday.

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