Lowest bidders for voter kit by-passed

Details are emerging that the electoral commission by-passed the lowest bidders when it short-listed the companies to be considered for the supply of biometric voter registration kits.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) short-listed four firms — 4G Identity Solutions of India which quoted Sh3.72 billion, Symphony whose bid was Sh3.9 billion, Face Technologies of South Africa at Sh4.6 billion and OnTrack of Israel at Sh8.2 billion.

However, results from the bidding exercise show that Safran Morpho from France which made a bid of Sh2.88 billion and Modern Lithographics (Kenya) at Sh3.2 billion were left out of the process.

KENCALL Ltd and CMC Ltd at Sh3.06 billion and Sandbox Holdings Company at Sh3.3 billion, respectively, were the other low bidders.

Questions are being raised over past records, political connections and ownership of Symphony which has been cleared by the electoral commission for the award of the Sh3.9 billion tender.

IEBC is today expected to hold a press conference where it will be seeking to answer queries raised over a decision by its secretariat to undertake due diligence on Symphony.

This will also come just a day before a committee on procurement starts evaluating whether the said company should be awarded the tender.

The committee conducting due diligence is also expected to travel to Germany to visit the company developing the software solution that Symphony intends to use.

On Sunday, presidential aspirant Raphael Tuju on Sunday told the IEBC to get its act together and ensure that Kenyans participate in a free and fair elections. He was addressing the congregation at the AIC Mumbuni.

Additional reporting by Godfrey Ombogo