[Opposition leader Raila Odinga. He has opposed IEBC's latest 'offer' to have the UNDP provide for ballot papers.] (Photo/thestar)
NASA Presidential candidate Raila Odinga has strongly opposed the proposal to have the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provide ballot papers for the October 26 polls.
Speaking on Tuesday form his Capitol Hill office in Upper Hill, Nairobi, Odinga said this was a plan by the electoral body to ‘hide under UNDP’ and offer Dubai-based Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing to print the ballot papers.
The opposition leader has time and over insisted that they will not go to the polls with the Dubai-based firm printing the ballot papers.
“IEBC cannot hide under UNDP to help in sourcing for ballot papers. It is not a question of who will pay. We reject the offer,” Mr Odinga said.
The IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati had indicated that his commission was in touch with the UNDP to offer financial help, as they seek to restore public confidence after the bungled elections.
“We have the criteria governing such an exercise but we have not firmed up the discussion,” he said without giving a definite figure that the UNDP is prepared to spend on the ballot papers.
He added: “This assistance is meant to help restore public confidence and trust in the integrity of the ballot papers and results forms to be used in the fresh election as well as address the concerns raised by the Supreme Court,” he said.
The country is set to go for another presidential election, which is set to be held on the 26th of October.