ODM leader Raila Odinga. [Photo/ Ebru TV]
NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s criticism over IEBC ballot materials tendering is hindering the electoral body’s work, according to the commission’s chairman, Wafula Chebukati. The ODM leader has accused senior Jubilee Party leaders of influencing the award of the tender to print ballot papers for the August 8 general election.IEBC has awarded Al Ghurair Printing company the Sh2.5 billion tender to deliver 120 million ballot papers, election result forms and poll registers. A report in the Star had claimed President Uhuru Kenyatta was hosted by the prominent Al Ghurair family of Dubai at Burj Al Khalifa before the IEBC deal was sealed. Mr Chebukati says Raila’s claim that Jubilee leaders have been in contact with the Dubai-based company for at least three years before the awarding of the tender was dangerously derailing the commission’s work of overseeing the elections. “IEBC undertook due diligence which confirmed the firm is qualified to undertake the printing of ballot papers,” the IEBC chairman said, as quoted by the Star.“In particular, on May 24, the commission held meetings with Jubilee Party and NASA coalitions. We took into consideration their concerns and explored several options to address them,” he added. IEBC has now invited key political players to travel to Dubai to witness the printing of the voting materials.