Kenya: Controversy as Dubai firm gets election tender

Kenya’s electoral agency on Friday awarded Dubai-based Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company a $24.2 million tender to print ballot papers.

According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson, the firm had been given the contract due to the short time remaining, which cannot guarantee the strict timeline for normal procurement. The idea to award the tender to a foreign firm has been contested since last year by the opposition.

Officials of Kenya’s Independent Electoral Commission say the agency will invite leaders of various political parties to accompany the commission to Dubai to visit the printing company.

Kenya’s opposition coalition says they will issue a comprehensive statement on the matter by Sunday.

A Kenyan electoral body official was sent on compulsory leave for two weeks ago while another was relieved of his duties over allegations that they compromised the procurement process for election materials.