[IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and CEO Ezra Chiloba during a press conference. The commission might be forced to procure ballot papers afresh.] (Nation)
NASA presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga has said the coalition will move to court to stop the printing of ballot papers for the August polls.
A day before the Dubai based firm, Al Ghurair, starts printing of the papers, Odinga has threatened to move to court citing the ‘close links’ president Kenyatta’s family allegedly has with the company.
According to Odinga, the papers have already been printed in favour of Jubilee, and this is part of a bigger plan to rig the elections.
With the elections only 46 days away, the IEBC fears the timelines for the August polls might be affected if Odinga moves to court.
“I have instructed my lawyers to move to court to stop the printing of ballot papers. We have raised this matter before but the IEBC cis hell-bent on moving forward with its plans under the instruction of Jubilee,” said Odinga.
“This firm is closely associated with State House. We have information that presidential ballot papers have already been printed,” he added.
However, in a quick rejoinder, the IEBC has come out to rubbish Odinga’s claims, accusing them of misleading the public.
“For avoidance of doubt, the printing of ballot papers has not started. We expect it to commence on Friday, June 23, 2017,” said IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati.
Should Odinga move to court and the case ruled in his favour, the IEBC might be forced to procure the papers afresh and go through the long process of printing, which, essentially might require more time and adversely affect the polls.