Principals summon IEBC over elections

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chief Isaack Hassan told the Nation that they had been invited to the meeting at the President’s Harambee House office on Ovtober 23, 2012. Photo/FILE/

What you need to know:

  • The two principals will meet polls agency chief Ahmed Issack Hassan and his commissioners, Finance Minister Njeru Githae and his Justice counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, and Attorney-General Githu Muigai.
  • This comes after the State Law Office on Monday evening approved a financing agreement, clearing the way for procurement of the 15,000 Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits.
  • The move will now pave the way for the release of about 14,800 kits being withheld in France by the supplier and allow for the start of voter registration.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have summoned IEBC and Treasury officials to discuss the voter registration crisis.

The two principals will meet polls agency chief Ahmed Issack Hassan and his commissioners, Finance Minister Njeru Githae and his Justice counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, and Attorney-General Githu Muigai.

On Monday, Mr Hassan told the Nation that they had been invited to the meeting at the President’s Harambee House office on Tuesday afternoon.

“We are going to request them to expedite the government’s responsibility in the delivery of the kits,” the IEBC boss said.

This comes after the State Law Office on Monday evening approved a financing agreement, clearing the way for procurement of the 15,000 Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits.

The move will now pave the way for the release of about 14,800 kits being withheld in France by the supplier and allow for the start of voter registration.

Over 6,000 kits, which had already been assembled by Safran Morpho following an advance payment of Sh2.4 billion, could be flown in as soon as communication on payment is made.

The AG’s approval means that the Treasury can now issue a letter of credit to facilitate payment of the Sh3.8 billion balance to the French firm for the delivery of the remaining kits and other supplies.

Serious business

Two weeks ago, the supplier delivered 200 kits and 1,500 fingerprint readers. And on Monday, a consignment of 5,000 generators also arrived in the country.

On Monday, the AG’s office also denied it was behind the delayed authorisation of the procurement and accused the IEBC of addressing serious government business through the media. (READ: Cash squabbles delay voter registration kit)

But Mr Hassan, while thanking the AG’s office for approving the deal, said the voter registration issue was imperative.

“When I spoke to the media regarding this matter I was only confirming factual affairs regarding a highly sensitive matter of national importance,” Mr Hassan stated.

But earlier, the commission’s Public Affairs department released a statement that appeared to be sending an apologetic message to the AG following the remarks by Mr Hassan that his office was to blame for the delayed supplies.

“The IEBC Chairman appreciates the fact that the role of the AG in the BVR contract is to advise on the legality and constitutionality of the contracts and agreements,” read a statement by the commission’s corporate affairs manager, Ms Tabitha Mutemi.

Ms Mutemi further stated that the financial agreement between the Treasury and the financier had been under negotiation adding that the IEBC Chairman was aware that it was only forwarded for approval on Monday morning.

And the Treasury also denied responsibility for the delay in the approval which has shifted the projected delivery dated from October 18th as previously agreed by the Kenyan and the Canadian governments.