Bidders want IEBC poll kits tender nullified

KIEMS includes Biometric Voter Registration, voter identification, electronic results transmission and candidate registration systems. PHOTO: COURTESY

Some local and international bidders want the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) tender nullified and re-advertised, citing irregularities.

The bidders, who applied for the KIEMS tender by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), alleged that the electoral agency worked with one bidder – a French firm – to develop the tender document.

KIEMS includes Biometric Voter Registration, voter identification, electronic results transmission and candidate registration systems.

Appearing before the Public Procurement and Disposal Administrative Review Board (PPDARB), Kenya-based Dittel Ltd, African Infrastructure Development Company and South African company BigRadap (BG) said the tender was flawed.

The company directors claimed an employee of French firm Safran Morpho initially worked on the document in collaboration with IEBC employees to insert information that could favour them to get the tender.

The French firm was initially known as Sagem before it changed to Morpho Securities and then Safran Morpho. It has its headquarters in Paris.

The bidders felt some of the conditions in the tender document - such as foreign certification and the amount of money required - were meant to lock out local companies.

They now want relevant bodies including the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to look through IEBC servers and staff computers to confirm complicity involving IEBC and Safran.

The public hearing that began at the review board's offices on Wednesday was suspended for two hours to allow IEBC lawyer Nani Mungai to provide signed minutes and his letter of appointment from IEBC.

"This is a very sensitive matter. Mr Mungai, we stand adjourned until 2pm. Please go to the respondent to give you signed copies of minutes and your letter of appointment," Paul Gicheru, the board's chairman, ordered.

When the hearing resumed, Mungai opposed Dittel director Jackson Nduati's request to present a document to the board, which he allegedly received from a whistle blower from IEBC implicating some staff in the tender row.

If the tender is nullified, it will throw preparations for the August elections into jeopardy due to the strict timelines set by the law.

The public hearing continues today.