Jubilee and CORD want say in Sh2.5b tender case

The two main coalitions now want to be enjoined in the Sh2.5 billion poll ballots tender case.

Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB) said it would today rule on the application on whether Jubilee and CORD would be enjoined.

The two rival coalitions yesterday sought to participate in the case involving the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and a South African firm, Paarl Media.

The firm filed an appeal with PPARB after it raised queries over possible irregularities in awarding a Dubai-based printing firm, Al Ghurair the tender to print ballot papers for the August 8, 2017 General Election.

Lawyer James Orengo, who is also Siaya Senator, while praying for CORD to be enjoined said the coalition was a major political player and would be affected by the outcome of the process. Mr Orengo said there were issues that IEBC and Paarl Media may fail to raise during the proceedings and which are very fundamental to the electoral process.

"What we want to achieve by participating is for the board to make (a) decision based on relevant matters that the parties mentioned in the matter may not be worried or interested about," he said.

And lawyer Hillary Sigei, for Jubilee, said procurement of electoral equipment was part of election preparations.

"The proceedings in the matter before this board and the determination thereof shall have an impact on the anticipated electoral activities as well as the logistics and ongoing preparations on the part of the proposed interested party and it is only fair that it be granted an opportunity to ventilate its views and proposals," Mr Sigei said.

But IEBC opposed the request saying it would delay the process and consequently stall preparations for next year's polls. The commission through its lawyer Anthony Lebullelah said involving political parties would open floodgates since other political parties would also request to be enjoined in the matter.