IEBC advertises Sh256m tender for ballot boxes
What you need to know:
- The electoral agency expects delivery of the boxes to start in January, seven months before the August 8 polls.
- The IEBC had earlier this year indicated that it has set aside Sh265 million to purchase 106,000 ballot boxes to replace some of the 180,000 that are broken.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has advertised a tender for 106,000 ballot boxes estimated to cost Sh256 million as preparations for next year’s polls gather pace.
The electoral agency expects delivery of the boxes to start in January, seven months before the August 8 polls.
The IEBC had earlier this year indicated that it has set aside Sh265 million to purchase 106,000 ballot boxes to replace some of the 180,000 that are broken.
“The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) invites bids from eligible tenderers for supply and delivery of ballot boxes,” IEBC said in tender documents. Tenders will be opened on November 9 with the contract given to the lowest evaluated responsive tender.
The tender follows similar bids by the IEBC for ballot papers (estimated at Sh3.9 billion) and poll registers and audit of the voters roll.
The rush to acquire electoral materials early is meant to avert a repeat of the questionable procurement deals that preceded the contested 2013 polls.
IEBC is working on a tight procurement timeline in what is likely to see it single-source the technology gadgets to be used in the polls.
The new Election Laws (Amendment) Act compels the IEBC to procure the gadgets (voter identification and transmission kits) by December 8, eight months to the 2017 General Election.
“The Commission shall, in an open and transparent manner procure and put in place the technology necessary for the conduct of a general election at least eight months before such elections,” the law says.
The procurement law requires international open tenders to be prepared for 21 days, floated for 30 days, 30 days set aside for evaluation and 14 days for award, meaning that the December 8 deadline will be overshot.
The IEBC in its budget estimated it will spend Sh3.5 billion to procure the kits. The successful firm for the ballot box tender will be expected to deliver six boxes with colour-coded lids for the posts of President, Member of National Assembly, Governor, Senator, County Woman Member of the National Assembly and Member of County Assembly.
The ballot box shall be transparent in what is meant to ensure there is not stuffing and will have indented serial numbers.
The IEBC has been allocated Sh18.5 billion in the current financial year ending June.
